EU regulation: What else is in store for the leather industry?
In the leather industry, buzzwords such as "REACH," "PFAS," and "bisphenols" are frequently mentioned, but many smaller brands are asking themselves: What does this mean for my company specifically? What regulations are actually forthcoming, and how can I ensure that I am not caught off guard, either legally or financially?
In this blog, we take a look at the latest developments in EU chemicals regulation—particularly those that may be relevant to smaller brands that manufacture and distribute leather goods. We also provide practical tips on how you can prepare.
What is REACH?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals in the EU. In short, REACH ensures that chemicals are used safely for people and the environment. Even if you do not manufacture or purchase chemicals yourself, as a brand you are responsible for ensuring that the substances used in your products comply with REACH – e.g., in tanning agents, dyes, or impregnations.
What you can do: Ask your suppliers whether they can confirm that the chemicals they use are REACH-compliant and ask them to provide you with safety data sheets (SDS) or certificates of conformity. If the tannery does not provide any information, you should take this into account when selecting suppliers: tanneries that operate with chemical transparency are more future-proof in the long term.
What are PFAS?
PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are extremely persistent, hardly degrade, and accumulate both in the environment and in the human body. The long-term consequences of this have not yet been fully researched.
Relevant for brands: PFAS can be found in coatings, leather impregnations, or finishes. If they come under EU restrictions in the future, certain formulations will have to be adapted or replaced.
What are bisphenols?
Bisphenols, such as bisphenol A (BPA), are often used as plasticizers or stabilizers in plastics. They can have hormone-like effects and impact health, for example on reproduction or metabolism. To date, the EU has primarily regulated BPA for food contact materials. There is no general EU regulation that applies to all leather goods.
Important for smaller brands: Certifications such as OEKO-TEX tightened their limits for BPA in April 2025 and are demanding greater transparency in the supply chain. This reflects the trend toward stricter controls on chemicals that pose potential health risks.
For you, this means that there is another way. Leather can be treated without toxic chemicals and still remain durable, beautiful, and functional. Those who choose safe, pollutant-free alternatives today are on the safe side, both legally and ecologically, in the long term.
Why small businesses in particular should be vigilant
For large manufacturers, regulatory changes are usually "business as usual." For small and medium-sized brands, however, the situation is quite different: they rarely have their own chemistry or compliance department and have little time and expertise to familiarize themselves with complex regulatory issues. At the same time, they usually have only limited influence over their tanneries and the chemicals used. Certification and market access also pose a challenge: the OEKO-TEX Leather Standard is still very widespread, while the LWG often only tests the tannery, but not the pollutant content of the finished leather.
What small brands can do:
Lay everything out and document it: Collect all available information—contracts, safety data sheets, supplier information.
Ask suppliers: Try to obtain as much information as possible about the chemicals used.
Have samples tested: Analyze individual leather samples for relevant harmful substances.
Promoting transparency: Standards such as ZDHC can help to maintain an overview.
Get support: We help analyze supply chains, assess risks, and implement practical measures.
If you want to know how your company can prepare for the new EU regulations—from supply chain analysis and chemical checks to the implementation of practical solutions—then get in touch with us. We provide direct, concrete, and practical support, helping you analyze, evaluate, and introduce safe and transparent processes.
