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Rising carbon costs of wasted hides highlight worldwide challenge

Dec 11, 2024 World

Shifting fashion preferences for synthetic materials over leather are driving up hide waste, with figures showing growing emissions and missed sustainability opportunities across the globe

New statistics from the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) have revealed that the carbon footprint of wasted cattle hides is higher than previously estimated.

With a global cattle population exceeding 1.5 billion, approximately 334 million hides could potentially be processed by tanners annually, according to LHCA senior vice-president Kevin Latner. However, with the fashion industry's increasing preference for synthetic materials over leather, millions of hides are left unused, contributing to growing environmental concerns.

The LHCA estimates that 30% of hides in India end up in landfills, with potentially higher figures reported for Ethiopia. The proportion of wasted hides more than doubled in the US from 7% in 2023 to 15% in 2024.

With an estimated 134 million hides wasted annually, this accounts for emissions exceeding 40 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent globally each year, exacerbating climate change.

The LHCA emphasises that tanners play a pivotal role in mitigating this environmental impact. By converting a by-product of the food industry into leather, tanners prevent significant carbon emissions from landfills and support a circular economy.

To further support its case, the LHCA has been developing a lifecycle analysis over the past three years. The findings aim to underline the environmental benefits of utilising hides for leather production and advocate for their increased use in mitigating waste-related emissions.

Image Credits: chooserealleather.com

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