THE CONSORTIUM MANIFESTO
SUSTAINABLE SINCE FOREVER
1. Made in Tuscany
The Genuine Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium is based in Tuscany, along the banks of the Arno river, between Florence and Pisa. The associated tanneries operate in symbiosis with the environment thanks to a production district that is cutting-edge, both in terms of technology and organization.
2. Quality controls
By joining the Consortium, tanneries agree to undergo periodic verification of compliance with the Production Regulations. The controls are entrusted to an independent certification body: I.CE.C – Institute of Quality Certification for the Leather Sector.
3. Metal-free
The production process of our associated tanneries is metal-free, and it always has been, thanks to the raw materials linked to the centuries-old history of vegetable tanning. Traditional and natural products are used in a production process that respects the precepts of sustainability and circularity.
4. No animal is killed for its skin
The raw hides used by our associated tanneries derive from the slaughter of cattle destined, from the outset to the food sector and they come from European farms which comply with EU legislation on animal welfare. The associated tanneries create value from the by-products of the food industry, addressing the problem of waste disposal.
5. Natural raw materials
The leather is tanned using natural plant-based tannins. As opposed to synthetic products, tannins come from renewable sources and are valued for their antioxidant, antibiotic and antibacterial properties
6. Environmental certification
The Tuscan Tanning District is the only district in Italy certified by EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), a tool promoted by EU to encourage the implementation of responsible environmental strategies.
7. Social Responsability
The Consortium applies the guidelines of the standard ISO 26000 and its trademark Pelle Conciata al Vegetale in Toscana puts at the center the respect for the environment and human rights, transparency, and legality
8. Compliance with the standards
The Consortium fulfills all the European and Italian norms. It constantly strives to ensure the protection of human health, the conservation of animal and plant species, the protection of the landscape, and the architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage of its territory.
9. Work ethic
The Consortium and all the associated tanneries ensure compliance with current regulations in the field of health, safety in the workplace, contracts, and wages without discrimination of gender, ethnicity, or religious belief.
10. Circular economy
The associated tanneries use centralized consortium treatment plants, controlled by competent bodies that ensure the correct treatment and purification of tanning wastewater. According to the principles of the circular economy of recover - recycle - reuse, the waste from the various processing steps is turned into useful raw materials for other supply chains.
