Ok so the title is something I think is really interesting. When we are young we very much believe in fairies and Father Christmas and magic but as we grow older that belief tends to disappear. However when we look closely at the world around us we see that magic is alive. There are people doing their little bit of good each and every day. There are many people in this world striving to create that little bit of magic in people’s lives and this is something I find grounding and inspiring.
So I wanted to tell you about our little bit of magic…. Our Leathers!
Our leathers are sourced from LWG Gold rated tanneries. So what does that mean? When you purchase leather for the shoe making process they all come from tanneries. There are many to choose from and like anything there are good tanneries and bad tanneries. The Leather Working Group (LWG) have a certification process where these tanneries opt to be audited for sustainable and moral practices and rated accordingly. There are different levels of certification and Gold is the top rated. This means that the tannery has scored more than 85% in all categories.
Let’s delve a little deeper, what are the categories and why are they important?
Environmental compliance
Our tanneries adhere to the highest standards of environmental stewardship. They are evaluated on a comprehensive set of criteria, including water usage, energy consumption, waste management, and chemical handling. By optimizing these processes our tanneries, significantly reduce their ecological footprint.
- Water Conservation: The tanneries we work with implement advanced water recycling systems and treatment processes to minimize water usage and prevent contamination of local water sources.
- Energy Efficiency: Through the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on non-renewable energy.
- Waste management: Effective waste management practices, including the recycling of leather offcuts and by-products contribute to a circular economy minimizing landfill waste.
Health and Safety
Worker safety and well-being are paramount to us as a brand and to the tanneries we work with. By adhering to stringent health and safety regulations, these tanneries ensure a safe working environment. This not only protects workers but also enhances their quality of life.
- Safe Chemical Use: Rigorous monitoring and control of chemical usage reduce the risk of harmful exposure and ensure safer working environments.
- No Chromium: Chromium is particularly harmful when used in the tanning process. By having chrome free leathers, we ensure better local soil quality, a safer environment for workers and cleaner local waterways and rivers.
- Training programs: Regular training fosters a culture of safety and awareness among workers.
Quality Assurance:
The meticulous standards required for LWG Gold certification translates directly into superior product quality. It is important for us to know that our customers can trust the leathers that we source are not only environmentally friendly but also durable and high quality.
- Consistent Quality: Stringent controls and best practices ensure consistent quality, making products more reliable and long lasting.
- Traceability: Enhanced traceability systems allow greater transparency in the supply chain ensuring accountability and ethical sourcing practices.
All of this shows the commitment we have to ensuring our leathers are the best we can source and our commitment to the quality of our products and the impact we have on the environment. Leather is very important to us, it is a natural, biodegradable and breathable material that would otherwise be waste material of other industries. Whilst we are always on the lookout for new technologies, we feel it is important to be real and honest. Every little bit we do adds an extra bit of magic into this amazing planet that we all call home.