Leather Working Group?
Founded in 2005, the Leather Working Group (LWG) is a multistakeholder organisation comprised of brands and retailers, leather manufacturers, suppliers, traders and technical experts working towards improving environmental stewardship within the leather manufacturing industry.
The objective of the group is to provide, maintain and develop environmental auditing protocols, which assess the compliance and environmental performance of leather manufacturers across the globe,whilst also promoting sustainable and appropriate environmental business practice. LWG has over 600 members, from leather manufacturers to suppliers, brands, and traders
Leather Working Group?
Leather Manufactures
Tanneries or manufacturers who carry out a certain fraction of operations on leather can request a Leather Working Group Environmental Audit from YKC and become a certified member plus achieve a possible medal rating form LWG. After initial communication with your auditor, your facility scope for LWG Audit will be determined and your audit will be scheduled accordingly. Get in touch with us to book your audit and start your journey to LWG.
Leather Traders & Commissioning Manufacturers
Trading companies which deals with processed leather products (except raw hides / skins) with a warehouse can request a LWG Trader Audit for assessment of their LWG supply chain and become a certified LWG-Approved Trader. Companies who buy their own hides and commissions the material in other tanneries on a sub-contracting basis then sells the final product without any operations (except minor mechanical etc.) can be audited with Comissioning Manufacturer Protocol (CMAP) and get a medal rating.
Sub-contractor Leather Manufacturers
Leather manufacturers who works solely on sub-contracting basis and does not own its own material can now be audited according to new LWG Sub-contractor Protocol (SCAP) developed to assess subcontractors to a higher standard and to provide them with their own certification and membership of LWG. In addition, as more subcontractors choose to undergo the SCAP and become LWG-certified, leather manufacturers will be able to choose new subcontractors from a pre-approved list. Furthermore, the SCAP plays an important role in the second new audit protocol for Commissioning Manufacturers, as it allows an entire production chain to be audited and certified by LWG.
Leather Working Group
Leather manufacturers can significantly improve their existing environmental systems in terms of documentation, waste management, emissions and overall sustainability by getting a Leather Working Group audit. Preparation phase and efforts to keep up the LWG standards helps companies to enhance the environmental conditions in many areas of the process and more.
LWG Environmental Audit Protocol
Operation Permits
Companies must have all related permits ready and viable at all times
Tannery Data
Manufacturing numbers and all related data must be correct and available
Traceability
Covers the methods to trace the raw materials to the slaughterhouse
EMS
Documentation systems used for environmental management (ex: ISO 14001)
Restricted Substances
Examines the company’s ability to manage chemical safety in the products
Energy & Water
Natural resources consumption and conservation methods are audited in these sections
Air Emissions
Includes assessment of all process related & other air emissions (including VOC's and more)
Waste Management
Covers waste data, regulative compliance and minimization technologies
Effluent Treatment
Operation and testing conditions of wastewater treatment plants (including CETP's) and final discharge quality
Emergency Plans
Company emergency management conditions & requirements
Housekeeping
General order & cleanliness of facility and safety management conditions in the manufacturing
Manufacturing & Others
Best Technologies and process conditions are assessed in this section
LWG Audit
For Tanneries & Leather Manufacturers
Ensuring the compliance of all permits and EMS documentation control & preparation
Adopting physical & document-based hide / skin traceability to slaughterhouse
Testing for leather, restricted substances, emissions, worker safety, wastes and effluent quality
Metering, recordkeeping, waste management and effluent treatment improvements
Assessment and improvement of safety and housekeeping conditions in the tannery
Adoption of best available technologies and precise preparation according to LWG protocol
For Leather Traders
Separation and improvement of storage conditions for LWG and non-LWG origin materials
Precise record keeping of incoming materials and outgoing products
Compilation of customer / supplier information & shipment documents
Ensuring the distinction between the documents for LWG and non-LWG origin materials
Building a robust supply chain by preferring suppliers with a hide traceability system
Setting up a specific mechanism of communication for customers requiring LWG origin leather
For Subcontractor Manufactures
Having all the permits and licenses for operation and other related activities
Keeping up-to-date records for subcontracted work and the process steps applied on leather
Precise measurement of unit energy and water consumption for the materials processed
Control of air emissions and calculation of VOC emissions generated for unit production
Fullfillment of the requirements for effluent, waste and safety management according to LWG Protocol
Assessment and improvement of safety and housekeeping conditions in the tannery
Tannery of the Future - Are You Ready for an Audit? is a self-assessment questionnaire designed to support tanneries who are looking to embark on their environmental journey but may not yet be ready to undergo the Leather Working Group (LWG) Environmental Audit.
Click here to access Tannery of the Future Assessment Tool