SER 2020 – A Comparative Approach Proving the EU Tanning Industry’s Continuous Striving Towards Sustainable Development

The paper presents results of the new Social and Environmental Report of the European Leather Industry (SER 2020) that follows up on the exercise done in 2012. Based on an intensive survey amongst European tanneries, led by COTANCE and industriAll-European Trade Union, company data on social indicators and environmental parameters that reflect the performance of the tanning sector were collected. Companies' data, anonymised and aggregated at national level and centrally computed at European level are presented and analysed, versus 2012 data, where appropriate (in terms of average values). Social Footprint of the EU Tanning Industry (employment contracts, age distribution in the EU force, staff retention, education, citizenship, gender balance) and Environmental Footprint of the EU Tanning Industry (chemical consumption, energy consumption, breakdown of energy sources, water consumption, removal of water pollution, waste generation, solvent consumption, costs and investments) are thoroughly discussed. Finally, Sustainability priorities / Ethical issues for the value chain and Objectives and challenges for the future are communicated in order to demonstrate the continuous striving of Europe's leather sector towards excellence in social and environmental performance.