EUDR in the spotlight
A seminar held at the APLF in Hong Kong highlighted the soon to be enacted EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR)
The seminar, moderated by Deborah Taylor from the Sustainable Leather Foundation, discussed the industry implications to the legislation that is due to take effect from December 30. Speakers were Fernando Bellese from WWF, Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano from COTANCE and Stuart Cranfield from the Leather Working Group.
The new regulation aims to preserve forests, reduce greenhouse gases, and decrease biodiversity loss. It covers key commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, and rubber, along with their derived by-products, of which leather is included. Obligations extend to traders, manufacturers, and brands to prove due diligence for deforestation-free supply chains.
Whilst there is concern that the industry is not prepared for the new legislation, systems are in place for some parts of the traceability requirements. All speakers agreed that collaboration was key to ensuring that the leather industry can be ready when the legislation comes into effect.
Fernando Bellese said that it was a huge challenge but the industry cannot use that as an excuse for inaction. Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano pointed out that rather than just being an EU issue, the legislation had ramifications on a global scale, and that without the ability to provide the data required by the legislation, entry onto and out of the EU market will be blocked but leather would still be traded elsewhere. The legislation currently only covers leather as a material but feelings were that it was likely to be updated at some point for the inclusion of leather goods.
