{"id":3374,"date":"2025-07-08T10:26:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T04:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.footwearexchange.com\/wp\/?p=3374"},"modified":"2026-01-31T10:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T04:49:15","slug":"leather-and-land-world-environment-day-calls-for-an-industry-reckoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.footwearexchange.com\/wp\/leather-and-land-world-environment-day-calls-for-an-industry-reckoning\/","title":{"rendered":"Leather and Land: World Environment Day Calls for an Industry Reckoning"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Each year on June 5<\/b>, the world comes together to observe World Environment Day<\/b>, the United Nations\u2019 largest platform for environmental outreach. In 2025, the theme \u2014 “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience” \u2014 draws urgent attention to one of the planet\u2019s greatest environmental challenges: the degradation of land. Over 40% of the world\u2019s land is now degraded, affecting the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people, according to the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). But what does this have to do with the leather and footwear industry?A lot more than we might think.<\/p>\n

The leather value chain is deeply tied to land systems. From livestock farming and hide procurement to waste disposal from tanneries, the sector impacts soil health, water retention, vegetation cover, and even climate resilience. In regions where leather production is concentrated \u2014 including South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America \u2014 this link between industry and land is becoming more evident, and more alarming.<\/p>\n

Common Perceptions:\u00a0 Leather Harms the Planet <\/b><\/p>\n

The leather industry has long been perceived as a driver of environmental damage \u2014 and not without reason. Several aspects of the traditional leather value chain contribute to land degradation, water pollution, and chemical waste, especially when poorly regulated.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3361″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Here are the most common concerns:<\/p>\n

\u2757 Deforestation and overgrazing<\/b> for livestock are blamed for soil erosion and desertification \u2014 especially in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n

\u2757 Excessive water use<\/b>: Chrome tanning processes can consume 50,000\u201360,000 liters of water per ton of hide.<\/p>\n

\u2757 Toxic sludge and effluent discharge<\/b> contaminate soil, rivers, and aquifers \u2014 affecting both land and drought resilience.<\/p>\n

\u2757 Solid waste and untreated trimmings<\/b> end up in landfills, releasing methane and leaching into soil.<\/p>\n

\u2757 Air pollution and odors<\/b> from poorly managed tanneries impact both health and nearby farmland productivity.<\/p>\n

\u2757 Unsustainable sourcing<\/b> without traceability increases risks of ecological damage and land misuse.<\/p>\n

In Bangladesh\u2019s Savar Tannery Estate alone, over 25,000 cubic meters of wastewater and 100 tons of solid sludge are generated daily. Improper handling of these materials might severely impact the Dhaleshwari River and surrounding land.<\/p>\n

\u267b\ufe0f Leather as a Regenerative Opportunity- A different story.<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite the valid concerns, the leather sector also holds unique regenerative potential \u2014 especially if we look at it through the lens of innovation, circularity, and sustainable sourcing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3362″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”3″ css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Regenerative Livestock Practices<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When leather is sourced from regenerative farms, it supports land healing rather than degradation. Regenerative grazing mimics natural herd movement, improving soil fertility, increasing organic matter, and boosting water absorption, all key to drought resilience. Regenerative grazing can increase soil carbon by up to 3\u20135 tons per hectare annually and improve rainfall infiltration over 30%.Brands like Timberland and Savory Institute partner with farms where cattle grazing is used to restore grasslands and increase carbon retention in soil<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Preventing Landfill and Organic Waste Pressure<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Every unused hide is organic waste \u2014 and when dumped, it emits methane, leaches into soil, and stresses landfill ecosystems, especially during high-volume events like Eid-ul-Adha in South Asia. By processing these hides into leather rather than letting them rot:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Landfill pressure is reduced<\/li>\n
      • Organic pollutants are managed<\/li>\n
      • Valuable land is preserved from contamination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        In 2023, over 100,000 hides were wasted in Bangladesh post-Eid due to poor preservation and low market value, creating enormous unmanaged biological waste which could be managed through a strong focus on leather sector.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Stopping Soil Pollution <\/b>By reducing the demand for synthetics<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Compared to PU (polyurethane) or PVC-based synthetic leathers, genuine leather \u2014 when responsibly produced \u2014 is longer-lasting, biodegradable, and requires less fossil fuel input. Avoiding plastics means avoiding microplastic pollution of soil. A durable leather shoe may replace 5\u20136 pairs of synthetic ones over a decade.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Reducing Water Stress to Enhance Drought Resilience<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            In drought-prone zones, water use matters. Traditional tanning uses large volumes of freshwater \u2014 but newer technologies can:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Reduce water use by up to 50\u201370%<\/li>\n
            • Enable rainwater harvesting for process water<\/li>\n
            • Recycle treated effluent for non-potable reuse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              In India\u2019s drought-hit Tamil Nadu region, tanneries using water-recycling plants saved up to 18 million liters of groundwater annually.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Turning Brownfields into Greenfields: Land Reclamation Projects<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                With proper cleanup, former tannery brownfields can be rehabilitated using phytoremediation and reforestation. Land once seen as dead can be brought back to life \u2014 especially in zones like Hazaribagh or parts of Kanpur and Cairo. UNIDO-led pilot projects in Ethiopia and Morocco showed land recovery in 2\u20135 years after tannery pollution clean-up.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Industry as a Partner in National Land Goals<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Bangladesh is a signatory to the UNCCD & has pledged to restore 500,000 hectares of degraded land by 2030. The leather sector can be a valuable partner by Funding & Supporting community-based composting of pre-tanning waste as well as Participating in land-neutral production certification.<\/p>\n

                  \u2733\ufe0f Conclusion: A New Footprint for Leather<\/b><\/p>\n

                  The leather industry can either contribute to land degradation \u2014 or become a driver of land restoration. The choice lies in how we source, how we tan, and how we design for durability.<\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  Source :UNCCD, UNEP, FAO, Savory Institute, UNIDO, LWG, Council for LE (India) & Newspaper<\/pre>\n
                  [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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