The General Assembly of UNIC – Italian Tanneries, held on July 1st in Milan, focused heavily on the growing concerns surrounding the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its impact on the tanning sector.
President Fabrizio Nuti emphasized that while the regulation aims to tackle deforestation, the current framework if not revised to exclude bovine leather or reduce bureaucratic burdens poses a serious threat to Italian tanneries.
“Unless bovine leather is excluded or at least the bureaucratic burden significantly simplified the EUDR will have devastating effects on our sector.”
Fabrizio Nuti, President, UNIC – Italian Tanneries
Since 2021, UNIC’s leadership has sent letters, met with MEPs from all political backgrounds, engaged with officials, technical staff, and lobbyists.
They have prompted multiple parliamentary questions in Brussels, hired specialized law firms, organized 18 seminars and webinars, and sent more than 120 communications to politicians and over 50 to member companies.
To address these challenges and future-proof the industry, UNIC is investing in a stronger and more strategic presence in Brussels.
“We need to stay alert and understand the intentions of our representatives in advance so we can guide them using fully transparent tools toward regulations that don’t threaten our survival. we’re not against efforts to stop deforestation or environmental, health, and safety regulations. But we also refuse to be blamed for things we are not responsible for”
Fabrizio Nuti, President, UNIC – Italian Tanneries
The assembly also featured a geopolitical analysis by Dario Fabbri, Editor-in-Chief of Domino, explaining the shifting global trade dynamics.
A presentation of the Leather Leaders project by Federico Brugnoli, CEO of Spin 360, aimed at uniting top-tier brands and suppliers to draft green protocols and promote innovation across the leather value chain.
Several key figures attended the event, including:
- Giovanna Ceolini (President, Confindustria Accessori Moda)
- Agostino Apolito (General Manager, Assomac)
- Maurizio Maggioni (National Secretary, UNPAC)
- Michele Matteoli (President, Consorzio Conciatori Ponte a Egola)
- Riccardo Bandini (President, Associazione Conciatori di Santa Croce sull’Arno)
- Roberto Giannoni (Mayor, Santa Croce sull’Arno)
- Mirko Lucio Balsemin (President, Tanning Section of Confindustria Vicenza)
- Sonia Tosoni (Secretary, FILCTEM CGIL)
Source – UNIC – Italian Tanneries & laconceria.it
