The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), held in Belém, Brazil from 10–21 November 2025, brought supply-chain sustainability, traceability and deforestation risk firmly into focus. Discussions and publications around the conference highlighted both ongoing challenges and the regulatory and industry responses shaping the leather sector.

Traceability and deforestation risks under scrutiny

Reports released during COP30 renewed attention on traceability gaps in parts of the global leather supply chain, particularly in regions associated with deforestation and labour-rights risks. These findings reinforced the importance of credible sourcing data and supplier engagement as scrutiny from regulators, brands and civil society continues to increase.

EUDR remained central to these discussions. While the regulation is expected to significantly influence sourcing and compliance expectations, the EU has since confirmed a one-year delay to its implementation timetable, alongside a planned simplification review in April 2026.

Updated compliance deadlines are now:

• Medium and large operators: 30 December 2026
• Micro and small operators: 30 June 2027

This delay gives companies additional time to develop traceability systems, collect geolocation data and strengthen supplier-engagement processes. Some member states had instead supported delaying enforcement of EUDR altogether by a further year, with no grace period once enforcement begins. Regardless of approach, the direction of travel points to sustained regulatory pressure on supply chains.

Broader sustainability action

Alongside regulatory developments, industry commentary around COP30 highlighted a broad range of sustainability initiatives already underway across the leather sector. These include increased use of renewable energy, improved waste-management systems and regenerative land-management practices. While implementation varies between regions it reflects the breadth of approaches being explored as tanneries and supply-chain partners respond to rising sustainability expectations and climate-related risks.

Industry groups call for clearer recognition of leather

 In parallel, several industry organisations including AHSLEA, issued a joint manifesto ahead of COP30 calling for more accurate recognition of leather within environmental policy frameworks. Signatories also included the International Council of Tanners, Leather Naturally, and COTANCE.

The manifesto argues that current life cycle assessment approaches can allocate environmental impacts disproportionately to hides, despite their by-product status, and calls for clearer accounting methods and greater recognition of leather’s durability, repairability and bio-based characteristics within circular-economy systems.

Ongoing implications

COP30 acted as a focal point for converging regulatory, environmental and industry-led sustainability discussions. Developments around EUDR, combined with broader traceability concerns and efforts to improve policy recognition, indicate that transparency, data quality and credible environmental performance will remain key priorities for the leather supply chain in the period ahead.