Press Releases and Latest Industry Information


Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment Report 2024-03

Thursday, 7th March 2024

This life cycle assessment (LCA) has used updated life cycle inventory for US beef and dairy production to create a representative model for animal husbandry in the leather supply chain. This study has also considered different allocation factors, which split the environmental burden of animal husbandry between meat, milk, leather, and other coproducts. The European Union (EU) Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) allocation factor for leather is 3.5%; based on US catle production, this study calculated and found a 1% economic allocation factor appropriate for US hides. read more


Preliminary data on the environmental impact of U.S. cow hide production, calls for rethink on leather, Economist Sustainability Week Summit is told.

Wednesday, 6th March 2024

A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of U.S. cow hide production has found the environmental footprint of leather to be significantly less than previously reported by the Higg Index, the Economist Sustainability Week Summit heard today.</p> <p>The independent study was funded by the Leather and Hide Council of America (L&amp;HCA) on behalf of the leather industry. It was conducted by Greg Thoma, Ph.D., Director of Agricultural Modeling and Life Cycle Assessment for the AgNext program at Colorado State University. read more


Former Wolverine Worldwide VP, Kerry Brozyna, Appointed President of Leather & Hide Council of America

Tuesday, 20th February 2024

The Leather &amp; Hide Council of America (L&amp;HCA) has appointed Kerry Brozyna as Acting President, effective June 2024. He brings significant experience in brands, manufacturing and international supply chain management as he moves from Wolverine Worldwide (WWW), where he served as Vice President and General Manager. read more


Leather and Hide Council of America Elects Tennessee Tanning's Mike York as Co-chair at Annual Meeting

Thursday, 19th October 2023

The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) Board of Directors elected Mike York. Tennessee Plant Manager of Tennessee Tanning. Co.. a division of Rawlings, as Co-chair of the association. The Board met as part of LHCA's Annual Meeting. October 12th and 13th, in Chicago, Illinois. read more


Real Leather. Stay Different. 2023 International Student Design Competition now open for entries!

Wednesday, 15th March 2023

The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition, in partnership with Arts Thread, is back with its mission to discover and showcase a new generation of designers who promote slow style and a more sustainable future through the use of long-lasting natural materials. read more


LHCA Partners with FAMPh to Launch Real Leather. Stay Different. Competition 2023 in the Philippines

Tuesday, 14th February 2023

The Leather and Hide Council of America (L&amp;HCA) and the Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines (FAMPh) have partnered to launch the Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Leather Design Competition 2023 (RLSD Philippine Student Design Competition 2023). The new partnership, which commits to ‘educating the next generation of creatives’, aims to reshape education around the production and use of sustainable leather in the Philippines. read more


U.S. Leather Industry Applauds Adoption of 'Leather' Definition by Textile Exchange

Monday, 7th November 2022

The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA), the trade body representing the U.S. hide, skin, and leather industry, applauds fashion industry standards and certification organization Textile Exchange for its recent adoption of an official definition of “leather” as a material created from the hide or skin of an animal. LHCA encourages other organizations and companies in the fashion and footwear sectors to follow suit in order to encourage increased transparency in materials labeling. read more


Leather and Hide Council of America Elects Harland M. Braun's Chad Robertson as Co-chair at Annual Meeting

Wednesday, 5th October 2022

The Leather and Hide Council of America (L&amp;HCA) Board of Directors elected Chad Robertson, Vice President of Harland M. Braun &amp; Co., as Co-chair of the association. The Board met as part of L&amp;HCA's Annual Meeting, September 29-30, in Chicago, Illinois. read more


IoDF to officially partner with Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition 2022

Tuesday, 31st May 2022

Institute of Digital Fashion (IoDF) is excited to announce their official partnership with Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition 2022 (RLSD ‘22), bringing education into the future with digital skills. read more


Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition 2022

Friday, 11th March 2022

The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition (RLSD), in partnership with ArtsThread, the leading digital platform for emerging artists and designers, has confirmed its return for 2022. The competition, which started in 2021, is a global search for new design talent open to students and recent graduates from anywhere around the world. read more