COTANCE calls for public procurement boost for leather
Leather industry representative body COTANCE has confirmed that it made a formal feedback submission to the European Commission about its upcoming Circular Economy Act. The deadline for submitting evidence as part of a public consultation was November 6.
According to the Commission, the Circular Economy Act will to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy. It will it aim to establish a single European Union market for secondary raw materials, increase the supply of high-quality recycled materials and stimulate demand for these materials in the EU.
It is due for adoption in 2026.
In its submission, COTANCE said leather is “often overlooked or misrepresented” in policy frameworks. It said the Circular Economy Act presented “an opportunity to correct this” and to ensure that natural materials, including leather, are “fairly evaluated and supported”.
Actions it recommended as the Commission completes its work on the new act included recognition of animal by-products as part of the circular economy and promote their use.
It also said the Circular Economy Act should support moves to have leather authenticity labelling across the EU to make sure consumers can easily identify the materials in the products they are buying.
A third COTANCE recommendation is that the act should promote the inclusion of leather in specifications for sustainable public procurement projects.
Finally, it said leather research projects should have access to the funding that will become available under a new EU research framework.
“Leather is a valuable and sustainable contributor to the EU’s circular economy,” the submission concluded.
Image shows one of the EU’s most prominent public buildings, the Espace Léopold, which houses the European Parliament in Brussels.
Credit: European Parliament.
