Click here to view other companies audited by BLC who have achieved LWG ratings.

The environmental auditing protocol and reporting mechanism have been developed and refined during each phase of the project in conjunction with the brand, tanner and supplier members.

The protocol is seen as a dynamic improvement tool and is regularly reviewed by the members of the LWG to ensure that it is both challenging but realistic and achievable. It aims to tackle important topical issues, and reflect improvements or changes of technology within the sector.  The program has seen up to a 30% reduction in water and energy savings.

For further information about the LWG, including members and all LWG rated tanneries visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com

The revised standard details requirements, test methods, inspection rules for classification and labelling, packaging and transportation for down garments which includes woven textiles as the main fabric and down as the main filler in the production of clothing.

For more detailed information on the revised standard, please visit http://www.sac.gov.cn/SACSearch/search?channelid=160591&templet=gjcxjg_detail.jsp&searchword=STANDARD_CODE=%27GB/T%2014272-2011%27&XZ=T

BLC can offer testing and advice and support to ensure you are compliant with the new standards.  Please contact info@blcleathertech.com or call +44 (0) 1604 679999 for further information.

The 647,000 products were rejected by CPSC Port Investigators and US Customs and Border Protection Agents.  47% of the products which were ceased were children’s products that contained excessive levels of lead.  Other products were identified as choking hazards to children younger than 3 years of age and this was followed up by products containing unsafe levels of phthalates.

If you are supplying product into the USA, you need to ensure compliance with CPSIA and other state regulations as appropriate.  This latest information published by the CPSC clearly identifies that measurements are in place and the authorities are actively seeking products which fail to comply with product safety legislation.

BLC are able to offer testing against CPSIA legislation, lead testing, phthalates testing and any other chemical testing and product safety legislative testing.  Please contact +44 (0) 1604 679999 or info@blcleathertech.com to find out how we can help you with this unavoidable legislation.

Click here to view other companies audited by BLC who have achieved LWG ratings.

The environmental auditing protocol and reporting mechanism have been developed and refined during each phase of the project in conjunction with the brand, tanner and supplier members. The protocol is seen as a dynamic improvement tool and is regularly reviewed by the members of the LWG to ensure that it is both challenging but realistic and achievable. It aims to tackle important topical issues, and reflect improvements or changes of technology within the sector.  The program has seen up to a 30% reduction in water and energy savings.

For further information about the LWG, including members and all LWG rated tanneries visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com

Click here to view other companies audited by BLC who have achieved LWG ratings.

The environmental auditing protocol and reporting mechanism have been developed and refined during each phase of the project in conjunction with the brand, tanner and supplier members. The protocol is seen as a dynamic improvement tool and is regularly reviewed by the members of the LWG to ensure that it is both challenging but realistic and achievable. It aims to tackle important topical issues, and reflect improvements or changes of technology within the sector.  The program has seen up to a 30% reduction in water and energy savings.

For further information about the LWG, including members and all LWG rated tanneries visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com

Click here to view other companies audited by BLC who have achieved LWG ratings.

The environmental auditing protocol and reporting mechanism have been developed and refined during each phase of the project in conjunction with the brand, tanner and supplier members. The protocol is seen as a dynamic improvement tool and is regularly reviewed by the members of the LWG to ensure that it is both challenging but realistic and achievable. It aims to tackle important topical issues, and reflect improvements or changes of technology within the sector.  The program has seen up to a 30% reduction in water and energy savings.

For further information about the LWG, including members and all LWG rated tanneries visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com

Click here to view other companies audited by BLC who have achieved LWG ratings.

The environmental auditing protocol and reporting mechanism have been developed and refined during each phase of the project in conjunction with the brand, tanner and supplier members. The protocol is seen as a dynamic improvement tool and is regularly reviewed by the members of the LWG to ensure that it is both challenging but realistic and achievable. It aims to tackle important topical issues, and reflect improvements or changes of technology within the sector.  The program has seen up to a 30% reduction in water and energy savings.

For further information about the LWG, including members and all LWG rated tanneries visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com

We are looking for a senior leather technologist to join our consulting services team. This person must have at least 10-15 years practical experience within a leather making environment. Education to degree level or equivalent in leather technology or similar is essential. This person will be expected to travel overseas on a regular basis and will be expected to solve technical problems, conduct environmental audits, deal with troublesome production problems or train people in specific skills.

This position will involve customer interaction including telephone and e-mail contact and face to face contact as necessary so experience in dealing with customers in this capacity is essential. The candidate must have excellent written and spoken English to a technical level and will be able to speak at least one other European language such as Spanish or Italian.

Only candidates with suitable experience and qualifications will be considered.

Please send your cv and cover letter to: Melanie Spence – melanie@blcleathertech.com  

The substances banned under RoHS are four heavy metals – lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI) and  two brominated flame retardants – polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

What about RoHS 2 (RoHS Directive-2011/65/EU)?

• No additional substances have been added to the six currently restricted.
• Inclusion of RoHS categories 8 (medical devices) and 9 (control and monitoring instruments) products in RoHS is now proposed.
• Changes to exclusions, exemptions procedure and conformity, including CE marking obligations are also proposed.

The new Directive is expected to be transposed into UK Regulations by a deadline of 2 January 2013.

Do these proposed changes affect your business?  Make sure you are fully informed and ready to comply with the new RoHS Directive.

As specialists in the field of chemical testing, BLC can provide advice, support and testing of products and all other materials for compliance to the RoHS Directive (including leather containing electrical and electronic equipment such as watches). For further information contact info@blcleathertech.com

BLC members receive a 30% discount on all testing and problem solving services.

Reference:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/business-sectors/docs/i/12-582-implementation-restriction-hazardous-substances-directive-consultation.pdf

Benchmarking information showed an increase in the number of audited leather manufacturers and the widespread global coverage.  The volume of finished leather covered by LWG audits remained around 2 billion square feet, representing 20% of world footwear leather and 10% of all leather.  In addition, approximately 1 billion square feet of wet blue production is now covered by audits.

Presentations covered brand alignment on RSL policies, key differences between ISO14001, metering to understand and improve energy and water consumption, housekeeping issues, growing NGO activity worldwide and a perspective on Greenpeace detox initiatives and the potential ramifications for the leather industry.

The TSG (Technical Sub Group) reported on their meeting in Hong Kong and indicated that they would be looking for volunteers to pilot Protocol 6 in summer 2012.

Other issues covered during open debate included:

• Coping with split traceability
• Traceability
• Hide substance in relation to energy and water readings

JBS gave a brief presentation on the methodology of managing the cattle buying process in Brazil.

Note: LWG members can access the meeting presentations and minutes via the member section of the www.leatherworkinggroup.com

For further information on LWG activities or to enquire about an audit visit www.leatherworkinggroup.com or contact info@blcleathertech.com