Leather & Leather Products Industry — Overview
The leather industry covers tanning, finishing, and the manufacture of footwear, garments, accessories and leather goods. Tanning operations in particular involve significant chemical use and environmental aspects that require structured control.
Tanning is among the most environmentally and chemically intensive processes in manufacturing, involving large volumes of water, chrome or vegetable tanning agents, and effluent that must be treated before discharge — making environmental control a defining operational concern for the sector.
Quality Control Certification supports tanneries, leather goods manufacturers and footwear producers in implementing quality, environmental and safety management systems suited to their processes and regulatory obligations.
Beyond the tannery itself, downstream footwear, garment and goods manufacturers face their own quality and social-compliance expectations from buyers, meaning a coordinated management approach across the value chain — not just at the tanning stage — is increasingly what export customers look for.
Why It Matters for Leather & Leather Products
Environmental compliance is often the deciding factor in whether a tannery can continue operating or supply export markets at all, given the scale of water use, chemical handling and effluent generated by tanning — making a structured EMS central to business continuity, not just certification.
Because tanning chemicals and effluent affect not only workers but surrounding communities and waterways, regulators tend to scrutinize this sector closely, and organizations that can demonstrate proactive, documented control are far better positioned when compliance is questioned.
Our Industry Expertise
The leather & leather products sector includes a wide range of activities, such as:
- Raw hide and skin processing
- Tanning operations
- Leather finishing
- Footwear manufacturing
- Leather garments and accessories
- Leather goods and bags
- Synthetic and composite leather products
- Export leather processing units
Key Focus Areas
Process Consistency
Controlled tanning, finishing and cutting processes to maintain product uniformity.
Chemical & Effluent Control
Management of tanning chemicals, wastewater and solid waste generated during processing.
Regulatory Compliance
Alignment with applicable environmental and chemical-handling regulations.
Workplace Safety
Controls for chemical exposure, machinery and manual handling in tanning and production units.
Social Accountability
Fair labor practices across tanning, finishing and goods-manufacturing workforces.
Downstream Quality Coordination
Consistent quality handoff from tanned leather into footwear, garment and goods production.
Critical Risk & Hazard Areas
Typical hazards and risk areas relevant to the leather & leather products sector include:
- Chrome and tanning-chemical exposure
- Effluent treatment and wastewater discharge
- Hazardous solid waste (fleshings, trimmings, sludge)
- Cutting, skiving and finishing machinery
- Respiratory exposure to dust and solvents
- Odour and air-quality management
- Groundwater and surface-water contamination
- Inconsistent quality handoff between tannery and goods manufacturer
Applicable Standards
Organizations in the leather & leather products sector commonly pursue certification against the following standards, depending on their scope and requirements:
Benefits of Certification for Leather & Leather Products
- Stronger control of tanning chemicals, effluent and solid waste
- Improved compliance with environmental discharge regulations
- Reduced chemical exposure incidents among production staff
- More consistent tanning, cutting and finishing quality across batches
- Stronger evidence base for export buyer and compliance audits
- Demonstrated fair labor practices across tanning and goods manufacturing
- Reduced risk of regulatory action or production stoppages
- Better-coordinated quality handoff between tannery and downstream manufacturing
- Improved protection of local water sources and surrounding communities
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is ISO 14001 particularly important for tanneries?
Yes. Tanning involves significant water, chemical and effluent aspects, making environmental management a priority area for certification.
2. Can leather goods and footwear manufacturers pursue ISO 9001?
Yes. ISO 9001 helps standardize cutting, stitching, finishing and quality-inspection processes across production units.
3. Does certification help with international buyer requirements?
Yes. Many export buyers require documented quality and environmental controls as part of their supplier qualification process.
4. How does certification address chemical handling risk?
ISO 45001 requires systematic identification of chemical exposure hazards and implementation of appropriate controls for tannery and finishing staff.
5. Is social accountability certification relevant to this sector?
Yes, SA 8000 is commonly requested by international buyers given the labor-intensive nature of tanning and leather goods production.
6. Can certification cover both a tannery and its downstream goods manufacturing?
Yes, certification scope can be structured to cover an integrated operation spanning tanning through to finished footwear, garments or goods.
Why QCC Certification
- Impartial and independent certification activities
- Structured audit methodology in line with applicable standards
- Competent and qualified audit personnel with sector experience
- Consistent and transparent certification process
- Adherence to applicable accreditation and regulatory requirements
Contact
For further information regarding certification services for the leather & leather products industry, please contact our office.