On 10 December 2025 COTANCE and industriAll Europe met with the European Commission during the Plenary Meeting of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee Tanning & Leather.
The goal was clear. Review the damage done in 2025 and lock in a plan for survival from 2026 to 2030.
The timing could not be worse. According to industriAll Europe only 1 out of 18 major EU industrial sectors is still competitive today.
Leather which sits at the heart of Europe’s textile ecosystem is part of this struggle.
The European leather industry is not small. It includes around 1,500 companies and supports nearly 30,000 direct jobs.
It also plays a key role in the circular bioeconomy by turning by-products into high value materials instead of waste.
“We must address the structural challenges that threaten our competitiveness. The European leather industry remains a sizeable strategic sector but we must be recognised consulted and supported accordingly.”
– Gustavo González-Quijano, Secretary General, COTANCE
Talks with the European Commission focused on laws that will shape the sector’s future. These included upcoming textile labelling rules expected in 2026 new ecodesign requirements and the Digital Product Passport.
While these rules target textiles they will strongly affect leather durability, recyclability and transparency.
The meeting also raised concerns over the EU Bioeconomy Strategy the Circular Economy Act and how leather by-products are treated under waste rules and life cycle assessments.
Another key issue was the EU Deforestation Regulation with a clear call for a proper impact study on leather.
Both industry and unions agreed on one point. Traceability systems must be realistic fair and aligned across the entire value chain.
Policies must reflect how natural materials already support Europe’s green transition.
The group also formally adopted the Leather Social Dialogue Work Programme for 2026 – 2030. It rests on three pillars. People, Planet and Prosperity.
The plan focuses on skills better working conditions stronger environmental performance and improved global competitiveness.
Social partners stressed the need for science-based decisions stronger cooperation across sectors and full involvement of the leather industry in EU policymaking. One size fits all rules will not work for a material with unique properties like leather.
