Looking Beyond Compliance: What human rights due diligence means for leather

This session will explore how brands, suppliers, and industry partners can strengthen human rights due diligence (HRDD) within leather supply chains — complementing ongoing efforts on environmental performance and compliance.

The issue

The leather industry plays an important role in the global economy, supplying fashion, furniture and automotive sectors, and providing employment for thousands of workers worldwide. However, its complex supply chains can involve a range of human rights and environmental risks.

While environmental issues such as pollution and carbon emissions have gained regulatory attention, human rights risks remain under-addressed. To create fairer, more sustainable supply chains, companies are encouraged to bring human rights due diligence (HRDD) up to the same level of priority as environmental management, working collaboratively across the sector to drive continuous improvement.

The webinar

In this 60-minute session, ETI will introduce the key insights from its new Leather Due Diligence guidance followed by a panel discussion featuring industry experts from across the value chain.
Speakers will share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of putting HRDD into practice — from mapping supply chains and building worker engagement, to aligning with environmental standards and emerging legislation.

Participants will gain practical insights on how to:

• Strengthen HRDD alongside environmental management;
• Build partnerships across deeper tiers of the leather supply chain; and
• Take proportionate, meaningful action to prevent and address human rights risks.

Open to both ETI members and non-members, this webinar offers an opportunity to exchange experiences, reflect on lessons learned, and identify practical ways forward for a more responsible and people-centred leather industry.

This session is designed for brands and manufacturers across the leather value chain: those with established footprints looking to further strengthen HREDD, and those new to the sector who need straightforward, actionable direction on how to begin.