EU Legislation for deforestation-free leather

Following a proposal prepared by the German authorities to restrict the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols, on 6^th April 2022, ECHA and member states assessed a group of 148 Bisphenols and recommended restrictions on over 30 bisphenols due to their potential hormonal and reprotoxic effects.

The European Union has passed a law to ban imports of leather and other commodities if they are shown to have links to deforestation. For organisations to comply with this legislation they will need to understand where their leather raw material comes from. 

The Eurofins | BLC Leather Sustainability Mapping Tool can help you understand illegal deforestation in your supply chain.

Eurofins | BLC offer testing for microplastics which are harmful to the environment, and biodiversity within water bodies.

How do organisations with the supply chain achieve responsible chemical management? This short article mentions the impact chemical management is having on brands and retailers; how ZDHC conformance is paving the way for change and how the ZDHC approved Eurofins | BLC Chem-MAP Programme is addressing responsible chemical management using a preventative approach.

Recently, there has been concern over retailed products being labelled as ‘faux fur’, being made from real fur. Fur trims and pom poms on coats, hats and bags labelled as ‘100% polyester faux fur’ to be from raccoons and Angora rabbits.

Typically, the supply networks of leading brands and retailers comprise multiple tiers across numerous continents. Accordingly, the complexity of such supply chains directly contributes to difficulties in management and is further exacerbated by the vast networks of independent suppliers, manufacturers, and raw material sources across the leather sector.

Increasing the level of traceability and visibility in supply chains is important for all businesses. Many retailers and manufacturers in the leather industry have a supply chain spanning the globe. For the leather industry, a major area of concern is having full visibility of incoming materials in your supply chain.

Manufacturers, brands, and retailers are expected to conduct a range of performance and compliance tests to ensure that products entering the market place are safe, fit for purpose, and meet global legislation. Eurofins | BLC are able to help you with any questions or advice regarding compliance with product international legislation.

Chromium is an element that can occur in three main forms. Elemental chromium is metallic chromium and used in the formation of stainless steel or chromium plating. Trivalent chromium (Cr III) is a safe form of the element and is essential for human nutrition. It is also the form used for tanning leather. Chromium VI is the hazardous form of the element.

Chemical testing is vital to ensure that products entering the marketplace are safe, fit for purpose and compliant with legislation. Legislation varies across the globe, which can prove to be a difficult and challenging task for global manufacture and supply chain management. As consumers are becoming more aware of product safety issues, businesses need to ensure they comply with regional and international chemical regulation.