GLCC debates most pressing leather industry topics
The increased demands on the sector to demonstrate sustainable development was top of the agenda when the Global Leather Coordinating Committee (GLCC) met in Italy, just prior to the Milan edition of the Lineapelle trade fair.
GLCC, made up of the International Council of Hide, Skins and Leather Traders Associations (ICHSLTA), the International Council of Tanners (ICT) and the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS), confirmed its mission to maintain and enhance the position of leather in the markets.
The ICT secretary announced that work on a database of leather regulations and a schedule of Leathermark registrations has been completed and will be released soon. This public listing should help guide countries who are considering implementing or upgrading standards for leather, he said.
The Secretary General of Cotance updated the committee on the EU-led pilot project on leather environmental footprint and sector stakeholder negotiations relating to allocations of its burden in the value chain. Discussions within the European Commission-led “cow modelling group” are ongoing, with official allocation rules expected by the year end.
The GLCC has started work on policy statements defining the industry position on key topics and the IULTCS’ vice-president provided an overview of these, including: the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), which is being negotiated by leather chemical suppliers on behalf of the industry; proposed changes to California’s Proposition 65; implementation of REACh requirements for lower volume substances - a category that risks the deselection of a number of leather industry chemicals in the EU - with a deadline of 2018; and implementation of EU regulations relating to chrome VI which will affect leather and leather products sold or imported into the EU by May 2015.
A draft EN / ISO standard on testing of critical chemical substances in leather will shortly be released for review by the IULTCS, ISO and CEN members.
The challenges represented by Cr(VI) regulations are also being watched closely.
