The European tanning industry research network Tannet has become one of the central pillars of the European Union’s research into sustainable water management. At a media briefing held by the European Commission in Barcelona on May 2, 2002, research by Tannet was among three projects highlighted that address the issue of water management from a global perspective.

Tannet was set up to develop environmental research priorities and disseminate information on relevant Research & Development programmes and projects via workshops, leaflets, studies and reports (see leatherbiz.com, January 16, 2002: "Tannet set to continue work"). The Tannet network is now made up of over 300 members, including some tanneries in Eastern Europe. Presenting the results of Tannet’s work was Dr Stefan Rydin from the Danish Technological Institute.

The other two projects presented at the meeting were INCORE, which looked at the environmental impact of abandoned industrial sites, and the Waste Water Cluster (WWC) project, which involved a collection of a number of research teams monitoring pollution from industrial and urban areas.

Most of the research presented was funded through the Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes, and the Commission is keen to continue this focus on sustainable water management in the Sixth Framework Programme which is currently being discussed at European level. Tannet said that it has already been approached by several organisations to put together projects for the new wave of funding.