LWG
LWG is an international organization and audit system that evaluates management practices such as environmental management and traceability for facilities involved in leather tanning and processing.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
LWG is short for Leather Working Group. It is a system that evaluates management conditions according to established audit standards, mainly for facilities involved in leather manufacturing. It is not a system that certifies the quality grade of the leather itself or the design of products.
Its scope includes tanneries that tan raw hides into leather, as well as facilities involved in leather finishing processes. Evaluation is generally carried out at the facility level, so even leather from the same company may be subject to different application status depending on the manufacturing location and process.
How the Scope and Standards Are Viewed
Audits verify the management system involved in leather manufacturing, including water and energy use, wastewater and waste management, chemical management, process records, and raw material traceability. Evaluation items and the scope of application may change with updates to the system.
Compliance with LWG does not by itself mean that leather is harmless, that there is no environmental impact at all, or that all animal welfare and working conditions are guaranteed. Depending on the procurement policy you seek, the items to confirm must be considered separately.
- Process management related to environmental impact
- Chemical and wastewater management
- Traceability of raw materials and processes
- Management records and continuous improvement within the facility
Checks for Procurement and Product Development
When procuring leather, confirm with the supplier the name of the facility that manufactured the relevant leather, the processes covered by the audit, and the validity period of the evaluation. Even if it is described as "LWG leather," the entire quantity of leather used in the product or all processing steps may not be covered.
Also confirm the classifications of top grain leather, split leather, flesh-side leather, regenerated leather, and so on, as well as the processes for dyeing, finishing, and lamination, and any accessories or auxiliary materials other than leather. If you want to show environmental consideration for the entire product such as bags or apparel, manage the materials other than leather and the processing and sewing steps separately as well.
- Relevant manufacturing facility and location
- Product number, lot, and quantity of the applicable leather
- Processes covered by the audit and validity
- Scope of the applicable leather within the product
- Consistency with the brand's procurement standards
How Labels and Certificates Are Handled
If you use the LWG name or logo, or certification-related wording, on product labels, hangtags, or product descriptions, check the display rules of the system and the supporting documents received from your business partner. It is important not to present a facility evaluation as if it were a certification of the finished product itself.
Proof may require not only documents related to the audit results, but also shipping documents and specifications that link the applicable leather to the purchased lot. Keep procurement records, and confirm that the wording used on labels matches the supporting evidence, rather than relying only on verbal explanations.
Differences from Similar Systems
OEKO-TEX is a testing and certification system for harmful substances in textile and leather products, and its main evaluation target differs from LWG. GOTS and GRS are standards for organic fibers and recycled materials, respectively, and their purpose differs from LWG, which focuses on environmental audits of leather manufacturing facilities.
Traceability is a general concept referring to the ability to track raw materials and processes. It is related to LWG evaluation, but traceability itself does not mean LWG certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the leather is LWG certified, do finished bags and apparel also become certified products?
Not necessarily. LWG is mainly an audit and evaluation of facilities involved in leather manufacturing, and it is not always a system that certifies the entire finished product. In product labeling, you need to confirm, based on supporting documents, which leather was manufactured by which facility and what scope is covered.
Does LWG guarantee the quality or safety of leather?
LWG evaluation concerns environmental management, chemical management, process management, and similar matters at leather manufacturing facilities. It does not comprehensively guarantee quality standards such as the appearance, durability, or colorfastness of leather, or the safety of the final product, so any necessary testing and inspection must be carried out separately.
What should be confirmed when a supplier says the leather is LWG-compliant?
Confirm the manufacturing facility for the applicable leather, the processes covered by the audit, the validity period, and the correspondence with the leather product number and lot. In addition, verify through certificates and shipping records whether the process scope, including finishing and lamination, and the quantity used are sufficient to support product labeling.
