EU Regulations: What's next for the leather industry?
In the leather industry, buzzwords like “REACH”, “PFAS”, or “Bisphenols” are frequently encountered. However, many smaller brands wonder: What do these terms specifically mean for my business? Which regulations are truly on the horizon, and how can I ensure that I am not caught off guard, either legally or economically?
In this blog, we examine the latest developments in EU chemical regulations – particularly those that could be relevant for smaller brands that manufacture and distribute leather goods. We also provide practical tips on how you can prepare.
What is REACH?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals – specifically, the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemicals within the EU. In essence, REACH ensures that chemicals are used safely for both human health and the environment. Even if you do not directly manufacture or procure chemicals, as a brand, you are responsible for ensuring that the substances incorporated into your products are REACH-compliant, for instance, in tanning agents, dyes, or impregnations.
What you can do: Ask your suppliers if they can confirm that the chemicals they use are REACH-compliant, and request Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or certificates of conformity. If the tannery is unwilling to provide this information, you should factor this into your supplier selection: tanneries that operate with chemical transparency are more sustainable and future-proof in the long term.
What are PFAS?
PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are extremely persistent, hardly degrade, and accumulate in both the environment and the human body. Their long-term consequences are not yet fully understood.
Relevant for brands: PFAS can be present in coatings, leather impregnations, or finishes. Should they fall under future EU restrictions, specific formulations will need to be adapted or replaced.
What are Bisphenols?
Bisphenols such as BPA are used as plasticisers or stabilisers in plastics and can have hormone-like effects on reproduction and metabolism. To date, EU regulation has focused primarily on food contact materials – there is no general restriction covering all leather goods. This is a gap worth knowing about.
Of particular importance for smaller brands: Certifications such as OEKO-TEX have tightened their limit values for BPA, effective April 2025, and are demanding greater supply chain transparency. This underscores a growing trend: chemicals posing potential health risks are facing increased scrutiny and regulation.
This means there is an alternative. Leather can be processed without toxic chemicals – and still be durable, functional, and beautiful. Choosing responsible materials today means staying ahead of regulation tomorrow.
Why small businesses should pay particular attention
For large manufacturers, regulatory changes are typically 'business as usual.' However, for small and medium-sized brands, the situation is quite different: they rarely have their own chemical or compliance department and lack the time and expertise to delve into complex regulatory issues. Simultaneously, they usually have only limited influence over their tanneries and the chemicals employed. Certifications and market access also present a challenge: while the OEKO-TEX Leather Standard remains widely adopted, LWG frequently audits only the tannery itself, not the pollutant content of the finished leather.
What small brands can do:
Outline and document everything: Gather all available information – contracts, safety data sheets, supplier information.
Consult suppliers: Try to obtain as much information as possible about the chemicals used.
Have samples tested: Analyze individual leather samples for relevant harmful substances.
Fostering transparency: Standards like ZDHC can help maintain oversight.
Seek support: We help to analyze supply chains, assess risks, and implement practical measures.
If you would like to know how your company can be prepared for the new EU regulations – from supply chain analysis and chemical checks to the implementation of practical solutions – then please contact us. We offer direct, concrete, and practical support, helping with the analysis, evaluation, and implementation of secure and transparent processes.
