The public consultation for the chain of custody and due diligence requirements sections of the LWG Leather Production Standard is now open.
Start date: 1st October, 2025
Closing date: 30th November, 2025
It is important that we receive feedback from all stakeholder groups to allow us to continue with the development of the Standards, the assessment tool and the guidance notes.
If you have any questions regarding this public consultation, please contact the Leather Working Group Standards team at standards@leatherworkinggroup.com
Don’t forget – these consultations are separate from the Leather Production Standard, so this is a fresh opportunity to share your feedback even if you submitted feedback before.
Each draft has a link to its feedback form on the cover page – you can make comments on each individual clause and add general comments.
LWG Protocol 7 will be replaced by the LWG Leather Production Standard and the LWG Chain of Custody Standard in 2026.
What is a Standard and why is it no longer a protocol?
A standard is a document that sets out requirements for activities or their results that should be met and recommendations for adopting best practice. The LWG Leather Production Standard is an easy to read and easy to understand statement of the aims and ambitions of the LWG with regards to the responsible production of leather. It is intended to be fully transparent and available to all.
Unlike a protocol, a Standard does not include the questions that will be used during the audit process. The audit questions will be listed in a separate assessment tool. Additionally, we will provide guidance notes for any leather manufacturer or facility that wishes to undergo an audit.
Why is a Chain of Custody Standard important?
Creating a downstream Chain of Custody Standard is an important step toward making claims about LWG-certified leather and improving supply chain traceability and transparency.
This first draft was shaped through extensive discussions with our Chain of Custody Task Team, who recommended using segregation.
Is the LWG Chain of Custody Standard replacing the current LWG Protocol?
The LWG Chain of Custody Standard will replace the current Traceability (Incoming) and Traceability (Outgoing) sections of the LWG Protocol 7 and will complement the new LWG Leather Production Standard.
What is due diligence for responsible sourcing and what will it cover?
Due diligence for responsible sourcing is the process of finding, preventing, reducing, and reporting any actual or potential negative impacts of sourcing on people and the planet.
Companies covered by the LWG Production Standard will be encouraged to carry out deforestation due diligence. This should follow the OECD-FAO Business Handbook on Deforestation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains, or a similar framework.
Why is LWG doing a public consultation as part of this Standard development process?
A public consultation creates inclusive dialogue between LWG and our stakeholders so that the development of the standard takes account of all stakeholders’ needs and concerns.
LWG wants feedback from brands, leather suppliers, suppliers to the leather industry, trade associations, NGOs, and any other interested parties. Public consultation enables us to develop robust and credible standards by taking into consideration the views of a wide range of stakeholders.
What’s the process for the public consultation?
We have provided a PDF copy of the two draft documents and a form for your comments. Tell us your proposed change to the requirement, and give us the reason for the change.
After the public consultation has closed, all comments will be considered together by LWG and industry experts and resolved. Resolutions may fall into 3 categories:
– Accepted
– Accepted with modification
– Rejected
We will publish our responses to the public consultation feedback (anonymised) alongside the final published Leather Production Standard.