LWG Audits
Eurofins | BLC Auditors are approved by the Leather Working Group, to complete Leather Manufacturer (Tannery). Leather Trader, Commissioning Manufacturer and Subcontractor audits using the LWG audit Protocol.
Eurofins | BLC auditors have been completing LWG audits for over 15 years and our experienced auditors can travel globally to deliver your LWG audit.
About the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit 7.2.0
Regularly updated, version 7.2.0 is the most recent version of the Leather Manufacturer audit. Whilst the main focus of the audit is to access the environmental management of the facility, the new protocol now covers the below topics:
- Traceability of the Material
- Chemical Management
- Social Audits
- Governance of the Material
Version 7.2.0 of the LWG Leather Manufacturer audit Protocol is made up of 17 sections. 16 of these are scoring sections and 14 of which are ‘critical scoring’ sections. The overall medal rating achieved will default to the lowest score achieved in the critical sections, so for example if the tannery achieves Gold in 13 critical scoring sections but Silver in 1, the medal rating will be silver.
The LWG audit covers the following areas:
01 General facility details *
02 Subcontracted operations.0
03 Social audit *
04 Operating permits
05 Production data
06 Traceability (incoming) *
07 Traceability (outgoing)
08 EMS
09 RSL, Compliance, CrVI
10 Energy consumption
11 Water usage
12 Air & noise emissions
13 Waste management
14 Effluent treatment
15 H&S, Emergency Plans
16 Chemical Management
17 Operations Management
* = Non Critical Scoring Sections
Certifications & Ratings for Tanners
Tanneries and leather producers can achieve either a Gold, Silver or Bronze certification or an Audited rating. Medal awards are determined by scoring in the ‘critical sections’:
-For ‘Gold’ Tanners must achieve a minimum of 85% in all critical section
-For ‘Silver’ Tanners must achieve a minimum of 75% in all critical section
-For ‘Bronze’ Tanners must achieve a minimum of 65% in all critical section
-For ‘Audited’ Tanners must achieve a minimum of 50% in all critical section
About the LWG Leather Trader Audit
This audit is for Traders of part-processed or finished material and assesses the ability to separate LWG and non-LWG material in the warehouse. Traders achieve a % score based on the origin of the material. Scoring is weighted with material sourced from LWG Gold Certified tanneries carrying the highest rating.
To be eligible for an audit, traders must have a physical site that can be audited such as a warehouse and must deal in part processed material such as wet-blue, crust, splits and pickled hides and skins. Traders dealing in finished leather and unprocessed material cannot be audited.
About the LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit
A ‘Commissioning Manufacturer’ is a finished leather producer that employs subcontractors to complete all the material manufacturing and have no in-house operations. The audit assesses the manufacturing operations for both the Commissioning Manufacturer and all subcontractors used and achieve either a Gold, Silver or Bronze certification or an Audited medal award.
About the LWG Sub-Contractor Audit
A ‘Sub-Contractor’ completes minor manufacturing operations on behalf of 3rd party organizations on material they do not own themselves. They achieve a % score that is then used in the main leather and manufacturer audit
Arrange an LWG Audit
If you are interested in arranging an audit of your business or of a supplier, or have any questions please contact us today by email to [email protected] or telephone +44 (0) 1604 679 999.