WWF to offer extra support to LWG as a member
13/10/2021
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has joined The Leather Working Group (LWG) as member in a “significant strengthening of the existing partnership”.
WWF will help the LWG to guide companies around issues associated with the provenance and production of leather as a material.This will include providing access to frameworks such as the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFI) and tools like WWF’s DCF Implementation Toolkit, designed to support businesses in reducing their risk of deforestation exposure through supply chain monitoring.
Christina Trautmann, programme manager at LWG, said: “Collaboration is key to our group’s success, and we are thrilled to have WWF join the LWG as a member and to continue strengthening our partnership with them to help us achieve our goals. By utilising WWF’s resources, as well as our own expertise and established connection with the leather industry, our strengthened relationship should yield meaningful, long-lasting change in the ESG practices of the leather supply chain.”
Mauricio Bauer, senior director of beef and leather supply chains at WWF US, said: “Incorporating requirements for additional checks on material sourced from threatened geographies into the auditing protocol is a very effective way to achieve zero deforestation and conversion supply chains for leather globally.”
Version 7.0 of the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit Protocol also introduces a section on social auditing for the first time. LWG member companies will work on implementing good practices, governance and programmes to protect vulnerable communities and safeguard human rights within the leather supply chain.
LWG will make use of WWF’s work on water resource protection to help companies to manage their water usage and reduce their impact.
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