April 30, 2025

World Leather Day has extra meaning

Over the weekend, we have again celebrated World Leather Day, and this year more tanners and others involved with leather have found their own aspect to support. Four days before, on April 22, Earth Day was first celebrated back in 1970.

World Leather Day, on the other hand, was only started in 2022 by Leather Naturally, the International Council of Tanners and others. Having World Leather Day so soon after helps highlight leather’s natural, sustainable side while the environmental feeling after Earth Day remains alive. Without doubt, a link to eco-consciousness makes sense while showing that good leather fits well with sustainability goals.

Earth Day was created as a response to public concern about environmental issues like air and water pollution. The idea came when, after witnessing a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin wanted to channel the energy of the youth-led anti-war movement into an environmental cause.

He proposed a national “teach-in” on the environment, and with Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson having already disturbed many in America, and elsewhere, about the damages “modern” agriculture and manufacturing were doing to nature, there was immense support.

On the first Earth Day, over 20 million Americans took part in protests, marches, and educational events. This led to the creation of major environmental laws. Subsequently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in December 1970, and the ’70s saw the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act all passed.

In 1990, Earth Day became worldwide with over 140 countries involved, and in 2000 it began to focus more on climate change and clean energy. Today, more than a billion people from some 190 countries take part in some way every Earth Day.

This year’s theme was “Our Power, Our Planet”, emphasising the need to move faster towards renewable energy. In a world where rising temperatures and new data centres will need increasing amounts of power, renewable energy offers the fastest and cheapest route to achieve it. To do it, we must accelerate our battery technologies and general storage and distribution capabilities. As we discussed last year, tanneries are mostly well set to use their location or their by-products to produce renewable power, and in doing so, reduce long-term energy costs while increasing their resilience.

When one thread is pulled, the whole tapestry may unravel

The first Earth Day focused on fighting pollution and protecting public health, which showed how connected everything is in our society.

We should remember the rather forgotten workaholic scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, who over 200 years ago changed the way we see the natural world. He invented isotherms and the concept of vegetation and associated climate zones twisting around the Earth. According to author Andrea Wulf, when visiting Lake Valencia in Venezuela in 1800, he noted that planting colonial crops had created barren, deforested land, while the associated loss of brushwood meant the tropical rains washed topsoil directly into the lake.

He became the first to explain the forest’s ability to hold moisture and create a cooling effect. In his “web of life” concept, everything hangs together, and when one thread is pulled, the whole tapestry may unravel. Meddling with the climate would have unforeseen consequences.

This point was loudly made with the 2024 theme: Planet vs. Plastics. This focused on reducing plastic production by 60% by 2040 and highlighting the health impacts of plastics. With oil use certain to steadily decline, fossil fuel producers are focusing on growing the petrochemical side, including plastics and the synthetics which are used instead of leather and natural fibres. A 60% reduction currently looks impossible.

We know that properly made leather is totally safe to handle and use and lasts a long time. In many articles, the longevity of leather adds character and “personality,” so they become trusted friends. On the other hand, we should not forget the many issues with plastics which relate to their widespread use and exposure, all of which are significant and growing concerns.

Plastics often contain chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and other hormone-disrupting compounds. These can interfere with the endocrine system, leading to reproductive issues, developmental problems, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

The short life of many plastic items is often the result of them leaching substances – added to aid colouring, softening or fireproofing – when exposed to heat or sunlight. This includes the release of toxins like dioxins, which can have severe long-term health effects, including immune system damage and cancer.

Microplastics are the tiny particles of plastic that end up in our food, water and air. Studies show that these particles can accumulate in the human body and may cause inflammation, respiratory issues and potentially even cardiovascular problems. For fish and animals, they may fill the stomach, deceiving them into thinking they do not require more proper food.

There are about 4,000 different chemicals that can be found added to plastics, such as vinyl chloride and styrene, which are classified as carcinogens. Long-term exposure to these substances can increase the risk of certain cancers, including liver, lung and breast cancer.

With other problems related to children’s development and skin irritation, the list is endless for these long-chain polymers, which take 500 to a million years to biodegrade. It was no wonder that for Earth Day 2024, reducing plastic production and usage was argued as crucial in mitigating these health risks and promoting long-term well-being.

Joyous leather is a key replacement for these falsely priced killers. Cheap-to-buy plastics are costing the Earth.

Michael Redwood

Leather chemist, writer, and advisor on responsible leather manufacturing and material strategy. This article was originally written for ILM.