The leather decree is in the official gazette

The Leather Decree was formally and finally approved by the Italian government last May 28, 2020 after a long and dogged advocacy effort by UNIC. Among the measures included in the DL that will come into force on Oct. 24, UNIC explains, "in addition to a definition of the terms leather and hide that is more correct and in line with EU and technical regulations, there is an express ban on the use of the word leather.

" A ban extended "also to prefixes or suffixes, to identify materials not derived from animal remains, as is the case today with the unorthodox terms eco-leather, vegan leather and the like used for synthetic materials." For Italian tanners, this is the "crowning achievement in the long battle over the correct use of tanning terminology."

"The determination with which we pursued this goal makes us particularly proud," commented UNIC President Gianni Russo, "The perseverance and determination of our association have been rewarded.

Finally with this decree it will be clear when it comes to real leather, leather tanning contrary to popular belief is much more "environmentally friendly" than synthetic products, most often derived from petroleum, in fact these products are not recyclable and the processing to obtain them is very harmful to the environment, While True leather is obtained from the hides of animals destined for slaughter, so it is reused by the clothing industry instead of being disposed of, a vegetable processing in respect of the environment has a minimal impact in terms of environmental pollution.