The Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE) is the representative body of the European Leather Industry. It is a non-profit organization established in order to promote the interests of the European tanning industry at international level. Apart from representing European tanners and dressers, it also has the mission of promoting European leather both in the European and international markets.
Leather is a material almost as old as mankind. A wearable natural second skin, it has provided protection, warmth and elegance to mankind for thousands of years. Is this material still up-to-date?
Latest News
Press Release: Leather Out of the EUDR: European Commission Adopts Delegated Act
Brussels, 13 July 2026 - The European Commission today adopted the Delegated Act amending the product scope of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR), formally excluding hides, skins and leather. The Delegated Act will be published in the Official Journal of the European...
COTANCE Contribution to the Call for Evidence on the EU Biotech Act II
COTANCE welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the forthcoming Biotech Act II and strongly supports the objective of strengthening Europe’s bioeconomy and industrial biotechnology capacity. At the same time, we underline that the European leather...
Press Release: European Leather Sector Engages Social Partners and EU Institutions on Trade, Circular Economy and Sustainability
BRUSSELS, 17 June 2026 - The European Union's Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear (TCLF) sector convened in Brussels on 16 June for the annual Joint Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee meeting, bringing together trade union IndustriAll Europe, employer associations COTANCE, EURATEX and CEC,...
UNIDO has just published its Guidelines for Assessing the Environmental Footprint of Leather
UNIDO has just published its Guidelines for Assessing the Environmental Footprint of Leather, which is the most thorough and credible assessment of leather's environmental performance up to date.
The Guidelines say:
"Hides and skins from animals slaughtered for human food consumption have been defined as...
