Clean Leather. Defined.

A practical framework for honest material decisions in leather.

What does “Clean Leather” actually mean?

Clean leather is not a marketing term.

It describes leather that is:

• transparent in its inputs
• responsibly processed
• free from avoidable hazardous substances
• designed for durability
• honest about its end-of-life reality

Clean leather is not about perfection.
It is about clarity.

The Clean Leather Checklist

Before calling leather “clean”, ask:

• Do we know the tanning system and key inputs?
• Are restricted substances clearly controlled?
• Is durability engineered in?
• Are coatings disclosed?
• What really happens at end of life?

If these questions cannot be answered clearly,
the material is not clean — it is unclear.

Clean Leather in Practice

Clean leather is not theoretical. It already exists.

Examples:

Vegetable tanning systems (e.g. olive pruning extracts, chestnut tannins)

The difference lies in disclosure and responsibility.

Why this framework exists

The leather industry does not need more slogans.
It needs clarity.

Clean Leather is a framework developed from real industry experience in automotive, fashion and upholstery — to help brands make honest material decisions.