The International Council of Tanners (ICT) has expanded its Leather Manifesto ahead of COP31 increasing the number of signatory organisations from 24 to 30. However the latest updated list still does not include an Indian leather industry organisation.

Titled “A Manifesto for Leather on the occasion of COP31: Leather – the circular choice” the manifesto calls on policymakers to recognise leather as a circular, bio-based material and support its role in reducing the environmental impact of consumer products.

COP31 the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference is scheduled to take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, Turkiye.

The latest update adds 6 organisations to the signatory list bringing together representatives from Portugal, Italy, Kenya, Pakistan and Spain.

ALSO READ: ICT and 12 Leather Industry Bodies Call on COP31 to Recognise Leather as a Circular Bio Based Material

The absence of an Indian organisation remains a key point as the manifesto gains wider international support.

When the manifesto was first announced it had 13 signatories. Leathernews.org highlighted India’s absence in its initial coverage, questioning why the country’s leather industry was not represented among the organisations calling for greater recognition of leather as a circular, bio-based material.

By late October 2026 the list had expanded to 24 organisations adding industry bodies from China, Italy, the United States, France, Spain, Mexico, Turkiye and Zimbabwe. However India was still missing.

With the latest additions taking the total to 30 the updated list now includes the Pakistan Tanners Association and 2 Kenyan organisations but no Indian leather industry body.

This comes at a time when India’s Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has set an ambitious target of achieving $50 billion in turnover for the leather, footwear and leather products industry by FY2029-30.

ALSO READ: CLE Sets $50 Billion Turnover Target for Indian Leather and Footwear Industry by FY2029-30

With COP31 beginning on November 9 the absence of an Indian organisation from the manifesto raises another question about India’s participation in international discussions on the future of leather. Will an Indian industry body join the initiative during the conference or will the country remain absent from the list of signatories?

ALSO READ: ICT Expands COP31 Leather Manifesto from 13 to 24 Signatories but India Still Remains Absent

All 30 Signatories to the Updated Leather Manifesto

1. Alliance France du Cuir (AFC)
2. Asociación Española del Curtido (ACEXPIEL)
3. Association pour l’Assurance Qualité des Fabricants de Bracelets Cuir (AQC)
4. Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters’ Association Inc (ASHLEA)
5. Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB)
6. Centro Tecnológico das Indústrias do Couro (CTIC)
7. Chamber of the Tannery Industry of the State of Guanajuato (CICUR)
8. China Leather Industry Association (CLIA)
9. Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE)
10. Fédération Française des Cuirs et Peaux (FFCP)
11. Fédération Française Tannerie Megisserie (FFTM)
12. Global Leather Alliance (GLA)
13. International Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Association (ICSHLTA)
14. International Council of Tanners (ICT)
15. International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS)
16. Italian Leather Chemicals Manufacturers Association (UNPAC)
17. Kenya Association of Leather Technologists and Scientists (KALTS)
18. Leather Cluster Barcelona (LCB)
19. Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA)
20. Leather Naturally (LN)
21. Leather UK (LUK)
22. One 4 Leather (O4L)
23. Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA)
24. Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF)
25. Tanners Association of Kenya (TAK)
26. Türkiye Deri Sanayicileri Derneği (TDSD)
27. UNIC Concerie Italiane (UNIC)
28. Universitat de Lleida (UL)
29. Wirtschaftsverband Häute/Leder (WHL)
30. Zimbabwe Leather Development Council (ZLDC)