In a recent development for the leather industry, the Leather Working Group (LWG) and Leather Naturally have announced the adoption of a new dataset on bovine leather within the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI).
This dataset, compiled through a collaborative effort by SPIN360 from their respective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, marks a pivotal shift in how the environmental impacts of bovine leather are evaluated.
The recently updated Higg MSI, released in October 2024, reveals that the environmental impacts associated with bovine leather are now between 55% and 67% lower than previously recorded values.
Specifically, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) which was assessed at 36.8 points on the Higg MSI scale has dramatically decreased by 60%, bringing it down to 14.6 points.
This substantial change not only reflects an improved understanding of the sustainability of bovine leather but also positions it as a more environmentally friendly material choice.
To compile this comprehensive dataset, SPIN360 collected data from 45 manufacturing facilities across 18 countries, evaluating 92 leather products.
This extensive research aimed to provide a global representation of bovine leather, covering various end-use sectors, including footwear, automotive, leather goods, and upholstery.
By encompassing such a broad spectrum of applications, the dataset ensures that the findings are robust and applicable to multiple segments within the industry.
