This month’s launch of Institute for Data Integrity (IDI) marks a seismic shift for the global leather industry. Spearheaded by the L&HCA, this nonprofit is setting out to bring scientific clarity, credibility and transparency to how leather’s environmental performance is measured and communicated.
Leather has been stuck in a data desert. While synthetic materials have dominated sustainability narratives with cherry-picked metrics, leather has been hamstrung by fragmented data. The result? Misleading comparisons, regulatory disadvantages and lost consumer trust. IDI is flipping the script.
Built on ISO-aligned Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies, IDI will deliver peer-reviewed, globally credible data that finally lets leather stand toe-to-toe with synthetic alternatives. This isn’t just about defending leather—it’s about telling the full story, from livestock to landfill, with scientific rigor.
Why Now?
Because the stakes have never been higher.
Without standardized, transparent data, leather risks being sidelined. IDI offers the antidote: ISO 14040/44-compliant methodologies that meet regulatory demands and withstand scrutiny.
Science First, Not Spin
Under the leadership of Dr. Greg Thoma, a globally respected LCA expert and Kevin Latner (L&HCA VP) IDI is building a platform that integrates data across the entire supply chain. From livestock production to tanning to end-of-life, this meta-analytic approach ensures no stage is left out—and no shortcuts are taken.
The platform will plug into major LCA software and databases, offering tiered access to protect proprietary data while enabling transparency. Public dashboards will help counter misinformation with accessible, credible science.
Closing the Tanning Data Gap
Tanning has long been the Achilles’ heel of leather’s environmental story. IDI is tackling this head-on, collecting and analyzing comprehensive tanning data to showcase the real progress the industry has made—and continues to make.
What’s Next?
IDI’s rollout is methodical and mission-driven:
This isn’t a rush job. It’s a science-first strategy that sets the standard for environmental data transparency across the entire materials sector.
Your Role
IDI’s success depends on industry participation. The more data we contribute, the stronger the case for leather. L&HCA urges members and stakeholders to engage, share data, and prepare to use IDI’s tools as they become available.
This is more than a data platform—it’s infrastructure for the future. IDI ensures leather’s environmental story is told accurately, completely, and compellingly. It’s how we compete – and win – in a data-driven world.