What is LWG Certification? Why It Matters for Your Leather Supply Chain
If you’re sourcing leather for your products, you’ve likely encountered the term “LWG certified” in conversations with tanneries and suppliers. But what exactly does LWG certification mean, and why should it matter to your brand?
Understanding the Leather Working Group
The Leather Working Group (LWG) is an international organization dedicated to promoting responsible environmental practices within the leather manufacturing industry. Founded in 2005, LWG brings together brands, retailers, suppliers, and tanneries to develop and maintain the leading environmental certification standard for leather production.
The LWG audit is a comprehensive assessment of a tannery’s environmental performance. It evaluates how a leather manufacturer measures, controls, and reports the impact of their operations across several critical areas.
What Does the LWG Audit Assess?
The audit protocol covers a wide range of environmental and management practices:
Water and energy management — The audit evaluates how efficiently a tannery uses water and energy throughout the production process. This includes tracking consumption per unit of production and implementing measures to reduce usage.
Chemical management — Proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals is critical in leather production. The audit assesses whether a tannery maintains a restricted substances list (RSL), regularly tests its products, and has systems in place to prevent contamination.
Wastewater treatment — Tanning generates significant wastewater that must be properly treated before discharge. The audit examines the effectiveness of a tannery’s wastewater treatment systems and whether discharge meets regulatory requirements.
Waste management — From solid waste to air emissions, the audit evaluates how a tannery manages all forms of waste, including recycling and recovery programs.
Traceability — Increasingly important for brands, traceability refers to the ability to track raw materials back to their source. The audit assesses a tannery’s systems for documenting the origin of hides and skins.
Understanding the Medal Rating System
Based on the audit results, tanneries receive a medal rating that reflects their level of environmental performance:
Gold (85%+) — The highest rating, indicating best-in-class environmental practices. Gold-rated tanneries have demonstrated exceptional performance across all audit categories and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
Silver (75%+) — Indicates strong environmental performance with robust management systems in place. Silver-rated tanneries meet high standards but may have areas identified for further improvement.
Bronze (65%+) — The entry-level rating that confirms a tannery has been audited and meets the minimum requirements for environmental compliance. Bronze-rated tanneries are on the path to improvement.
Audited (below 65%) — The tannery has undergone the audit process but has not yet achieved a medal rating.
Why LWG Certification Matters for Your Brand
Meeting consumer expectations — Today’s consumers are increasingly conscious about the environmental impact of their purchases. Products made with leather from LWG certified tanneries demonstrate your brand’s commitment to responsible sourcing. This is especially important in the European market, where sustainability is a key purchasing factor.
Supply chain compliance — Many major brands and retailers now require their leather suppliers to be LWG certified. If you supply products to brands like Nike, Adidas, H&M, IKEA, or similar companies, LWG certification in your supply chain may be a requirement, not an option.
Risk reduction — Working with LWG certified tanneries reduces the risk of chemical non-compliance, environmental incidents, and reputational damage. The audit process verifies that tanneries have proper systems in place for managing chemicals, wastewater, and waste.
Regulatory compliance — LWG certification helps ensure that your leather supply chain meets regulatory requirements such as REACH (for the EU market), which restricts certain chemicals in consumer products.
Continuous improvement — LWG certification is not a one-time achievement. Tanneries must be re-audited regularly, and the audit protocol is continuously updated to reflect evolving best practices. This ensures that certified tanneries maintain and improve their environmental performance over time.
How to Verify LWG Certification
You can verify a tannery’s LWG certification status through the official LWG website, which maintains a searchable database of all certified suppliers. The listing shows each tannery’s current medal rating and certification validity dates.
When requesting information from a potential leather supplier, ask for their LWG certificate number and current medal rating. Reputable tanneries will readily share this information and may even display their certification status on their website and marketing materials.
Asen Leather: LWG Gold Certified Since Day One
At Asen Leather, we are proud to hold LWG Gold certification — the highest achievable rating. Our tannery in Istanbul’s Leather Organized Industrial Zone operates under strict environmental protocols that cover every aspect of our production process, from raw material sourcing to wastewater treatment.
Our Gold certification reflects our commitment to producing premium bovine leather while minimizing our environmental impact. For brands that prioritize sustainability in their supply chain, partnering with an LWG Gold certified tannery provides confidence that your leather meets the highest environmental standards in the industry.
Want to learn more about sourcing LWG Gold certified leather? Contact our team to discuss your requirements and request samples.