Standards & Certification

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Connect with the world leaders in responsible leather production and become a member of LWG now. Our members include brands, manufacturers, suppliers, and more.

Leather Working Group is working to drive measurable change through the LWG Audit Standards.

LWG Audit Standards are designed to provide transparency and accountability within the leather supply chain. Our flagship audit standard, the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit was first launched in 2005. Since then, we've launched additional audit standards to engage different actors in the leather value chain and deliver maximum impact.

LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit

Launched in 2005, our flagship audit assesses the environmental performance and compliance of leather manufacturing facilities. This standard is used to assess leather manufacturers on the following aspects:

Water & Energy Usage
Waste & Effluent Management
Air & Noise Emissions
Traceability
Health & Safety
Chemical Management
Restricted Substances and MRSL Compliance

Version 7 of the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit Standard (P7) was launched in early 2021, introducing some major changes to how we assess leather manufacturers for a more thorough understanding of their environmental performance.

LWG Trader Audit Standard

Available since 2016, the LWG Trader Audit assesses traders of raw and part-processed material, as well as finished leather. The standard helps to facilitate traceability through the complex leather supply chain.

LWG Subcontractor Audit Standard

Introduced in 2020, the LWG Subcontractor Audit Standard assesses the environmental performance of manufacturers completing work on a subcontract basis on behalf of other organisations that own the material. The results of the Sub Contractor Audit are then used in the audit of their clients.

LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit Standard

Launched alongside the subcontractor audit in 2020, the LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit assesses the performance of companies that buy raw or part-processsed material and commission subcontractors to perform all manufacturing operations on the material to produce finished leather. These companies buy their own material for processing, but do not complete any operations themselves, instead using one or more subcontractors that have been audited against the LWG Sub Contractor Audit Standard.

Where to next?

Join Leather Working Group

Get involved in our international community to help drive positive change, enhance transparency, and make an impact across the global leather supply chain.

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What would you like to look for?

Leather Working Group provides a path towards a more responsible and transparent global leather industry through our audit standards. Our assessment has been developed with input from supply chain experts to promote best practice in a facility's performance.