A stakeholder roundtable on “Building Low-Carbon and Sustainable Pathways for Tamil Nadu’s Leather and Footwear Sector” was held on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, at Hotel Taj Connemara in Chennai.
The event was organized by WRI India Chapter in collaboration with IFLMEA, AISHTMA, SITDA and RANITEC.
The meeting brought together a wide range of industry representatives including officials from SITDA, RANITEC, VANITEC, PTIETC, the State Bank of India’s Leather & International Branch, SIDBI and senior scientists from CSIR-CLRI.
The roundtable focused on the key challenges faced by leather clusters across Tamil Nadu and explored sustainable technology upgrades, financing options for low-carbon initiatives and methods to enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Participants also discussed setting up solar parks in major leather hubs to encourage renewable energy adoption and extending capital subsidies for energy audits.
Another major topic was the growing impact of international environmental regulations such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), both of which are expected to influence India’s leather export strategy in the coming years.
Scientists from CSIR – CLRI presented detailed findings on carbon emissions within the leather industry and unveiled a new digital tool called CLI-MATE.
The software is designed to help tanneries capture, monitor and analyze their CO₂ emissions in real time. Currently in trial phase, the tool aims to assist leather units in effectively managing and reducing their carbon footprint.
WRI India and the KH Group of Companies also made presentations, outlining strategies for achieving sustainable, low-carbon and energy-efficient growth for Tamil Nadu’s leather and footwear sector.
