What Sustainable Leather Foundation does

Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) is a UK-based Community Interest Company founded in 2020 that provides sustainability certification, traceability, and transparency infrastructure for the global leather value chain. Its core offering is the SLF Transparency Dashboard™, a web-based platform that aggregates and publishes environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance data for tanneries, brands, retailers, OEMs, chemical suppliers, farmers, and meatpackers, supported by Dynamic Profiles with QR-code technology for consumer-facing transparency and a Whole Value Chain Connectivity layer that links upstream and downstream participants while protecting commercial confidentiality. The foundation also delivers ESG Audit Certification (currently pursuing formal UKAS accreditation under ISO 17065), Equivalency mapping against other certification schemes, and project-based digital traceability systems such as the FCDO/SMEP-funded Leathertrace Bangladesh e-traceability platform, which includes carbon calculation tools, lifecycle assessment research, and a Policy Blueprint.

SLF operates a recurring partnership-fee model organised around three tiers — Compliance Partners, Contributing Partners, and Licensed Partners — complemented by audit certification and training revenue (notably the L&HCA Regional Agricultural Promotion Program across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is channel-partner- and event-driven, with active participation at Lineapelle Milan, APLF Hong Kong, FILK Freiburg, and Pakistan Mega Leather Show, plus delivery of regional inception workshops and consortium projects with UN agencies (UNECE, UNIDO, UNCTAD), WWF Pakistan, and academic partners. The organisation reports global reach across 34 countries (up from 28 in 2025), 34% partnership growth in 2025, and a 26% increase in Transparency Dashboards published, and holds foundational positioning around incoming EU regulations (EUDR, CSRD, CSDDD, EU Green Claims Directive) as well as a founding-signatory role on HRH King Charles's Terra Carta charter under the Sustainable Markets Initiative.

Name

Sustainable Leather Foundation

Legal name

Sustainable Leather Foundation CIC

Website

https://sustainableleatherfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) is a UK Community Interest Company that delivers ESG audit certification, the SLF Transparency Dashboard™, and digital traceability tools for the global leather value chain, serving tanneries, brands, retailers, and NGOs across 34 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification and ESG Compliance Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Leather Testing, Grading & Quality Certification (IMAOAGAJ), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Leather sustainability certification
• ESG audit services
• Supply chain traceability
• Transparency dashboard platform
• Leather value chain compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Daventry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification and Audit Services: SLF provides audit certification services for leather manufacturers, tanneries, and other value chain partners against their ESG standards. The certification process includes preliminary assessment visits, formal audits, and ongoing certification maintenance across environmental, social, and governance modules.
2. Partnership Fees: Organizations join as Compliance Partners, Contributing Partners, or Licensed Partners, gaining access to the Transparency Dashboard, audit certification, technical resources, and partner-only materials. The partnership model supports the foundation's operations and global reach.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sustainable Leather Foundation provides ESG audit certification services and the SLF Transparency Dashboard™, a web-based due-diligence and monitoring platform that demonstrates environmental, social and governance responsibility across the leather value chain. The foundation offers tiered partnership programmes (Compliance, Contributing, Licensed Partners), equivalency mapping against other certification schemes, dynamic company profiles with QR technology, and technical guidance for compliance with EU regulations (EUDR, CSRD, CSDDD, Green Claims Directive).

Product overview

The Sustainable Leather Foundation operates a modular platform centered on its Transparency Dashboard™ (SLF Dashboard) for ESG monitoring and certification, complemented by Audit Certification services, Equivalency mapping, Guidance and Support, and Dynamic Profiles with QR Technology. The foundation also delivers the LHCA Training Programme for regional capacity building and manages the Leathertrace Bangladesh Project for supply chain traceability. The platform serves compliance partners (tanneries, traders, chemical companies), contributing partners (NGOs, certification bodies, associations), and licensed partners (brands, retailers, OEMs) across the leather value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SLF Transparency Dashboard™ A flagship due-diligence and monitoring tool that demonstrates the environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibility of the leather value chain, enabling partners to publish transparency data, certification results, and dynamic profiles accessible via QR technology to consumers and buyers.
• Audit Certification ESG auditing and certification services that assess leather value chain partners across environmental, social, and governance criteria. Includes preliminary assessment visits, formal audits, and ongoing certification maintenance, with the scheme pursuing formal UKAS accreditation under ISO 17065 conformity assessment.
• Guidance and Support Advisory and consulting services that help leather industry organizations prepare for incoming regulations and directives including EU CSRD, EU CSDDD, EUDR, and the EU Green Claims Directive, providing technical guidance, training, and support for sustainability improvement.
• LHCA Training Programme Regional Agricultural Promotion Program delivered under contract with Leather and Hide Council of America (L&HCA) providing systematic training, support and certification for leather facilities across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
• Leathertrace Bangladesh Project A two-year SMEP-funded project that delivered a digital e-traceability system, carbon calculation tools, lifecycle assessment research, and a Policy Blueprint to assist Bangladeshi tanneries in transitioning to more sustainable leather production processes.
• Consumer Resources Hub Educational resources for consumers covering animal welfare, biodegradability, carbon footprint, chemistry, consumer communication, deforestation and biodiversity, ethical business practice, social responsibility, and traceability and transparency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global reach expanded from 28 to 34 countries in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCDO funds the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme under which the Leathertrace Bangladesh TCLP project operates. SLF serves as a project partner delivering digitised traceability and environmental footprint systems for Bangladeshi tanneries.
• UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical assistance for the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP project, supporting the development of traceability and environmental footprint systems for sustainable leather production.
• WWF PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF Pakistan contracted SLF for development of Transparency and Traceability Guidelines for Leather Supply Chain of Pakistan under the EU-funded ILES project. Jointly hosted 'Symposium of Traceability in the Leather Supply Chain' at Pakistan Mega Leather Show.
• UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLF has been involved in UNECE's traceability and transparency project since 2019. Managing Director Deborah Taylor serves as UN/CEFACT Consultant on the core project team since April 2020. SLF participated in the leather value chain blockchain pilot.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLF collaborates with UNIDO's Leather Panel, referring partners to UNIDO training resources on hydrogen sulphide gas, first aid, and tannery effluent treatment. UNIDO launched Guidelines for Assessing Environmental Footprint of Leather developed with Spin360.
• Leather and Hide Council of America (L&HCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerL&HCA contracted SLF to provide training and certification under its Regional Agricultural Promotion Program expanding US hide and leather export capacity. SLF delivers systematic training, support and certification across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
• COTANCE (European Leather Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOTANCE represents European leather industry at EU and international level. SLF participates in CEN standard development for leather traceability (EN 18199) and collaborates on stakeholder meetings and industry events.
• Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALLPI is a Contributing Partner supporting leather sector development in African regions. SLF delivered LHCA training inception workshop in Addis Ababa with ALLPI representation from 14 African countries.
• ICEC (Quality Certification Institute For the Leather Sector)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian certification body collaborating on CEN standard alignment initiatives. Participated in Lineapelle seminar on official CEN Standard for Traceability in the Leather Supply Chain.
• University of NorthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP consortium team working on lifecycle assessment research, carbon calculation tools, and policy development.
• SERA BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP consortium providing expertise for e-traceability solutions in Bangladesh's leather sector.
• iDEATREE BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP consortium working on sustainable leather production processes.
• University of HertfordshireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP consortium contributing research expertise.
• Aston UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Leathertrace Bangladesh SMEP consortium contributing academic research support.
• WWFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLF collaborates with WWF on leather value chain sustainability. WWF has recognized SLF's Transparency Dashboard as a significant step toward providing transparency throughout the leather value chain for zero deforestation and conversion-free supply chains.
• Sustainable Markets Initiative - Terra CartacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLF is a founding signatory to the Terra Carta charter initiated by HRH King Charles, supporting the Sustainable Markets Initiative's roadmap to 2030 for sustainable business practices.
• Pakistan Tanners AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganiser of Pakistan Mega Leather Show where SLF co-hosted the Symposium of Traceability in the Leather Supply Chain with WWF Pakistan.
• APKI (Indonesian Tanners Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian Tanners Association partnered with SLF for 2-Day Inception Workshop in Malang, Indonesia under L&HCA Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.
• AKPIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian Tanners Association (APKI) association partner for training workshops with 25 Indonesian tanneries in attendance.
• Leathertrace Bangladesh Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year Leathertrace Bangladesh project delivered digital e-traceability system, carbon calculation tools, lifecycle assessment research and Policy Blueprint. Consortium includes University of Northampton, iDEATREE Bangladesh, SERA Bangladesh, and universities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Canopy: NGO working with brands on responsible sourcing of forest-based materials, including leather alternatives; comparable as an emerging standards and brand-engagement player in leather-related deforestation risk.
• Spin360: Sustainability software and assessment firm that co-developed UNIDO's Environmental Footprint of Leather Guidelines with SLF partners; an emerging player in leather environmental footprinting that competes on adjacent data services.
• Material Exchange: Digital B2B materials marketplace where SLF is a spotlight partner under 'Better Leather'; overlaps on responsible leather sourcing tools and traceability for brands and manufacturers.

Direct peers

• BLC Leather Technology Centre: Leather testing laboratory and certification provider offering materials testing, problem-solving and quality assurance services closely comparable to SLF's audit and assurance offerings.
• Leather Working Group (LWG): Industry-led audit and certification body for leather manufacturers; competes directly with SLF on tannery ESG certification, auditing protocols and traceability standards across the same customer base.
• ICEC (Istituto di Certificazione per l'Industria del Cuoio): Italian leather-sector certification institute collaborating with SLF on CEN traceability standards; offers overlapping audit certification and standards alignment services for tanneries and brands.

Broad incumbents

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Global forest certification and chain-of-custody standard-setter; relevant peer given SLF's deforestation-free sourcing focus under EUDR and shared chain-of-custody methodology.
• Textile Exchange: Non-profit operating standards and certifications for preferred materials including recycled and responsibly-sourced leather; comparable as a materials-focused certification body serving global brands and retailers.
• OEKO-TEX: Established textile and leather certification scheme (Standard 100, Leather Standard, Made in Green); a broader incumbent offering ESG-adjacent certification that overlaps with SLF's scope and serves the same brand customers.
• ZDHC Foundation (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals): Industry coalition driving chemical management in leather and textile supply chains; comparable as an adjacent sustainability standard-setter that intersects with SLF's chemical and ESG audit scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjuF0B9wuIkMlqJfj460-DA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-leather-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Leather Foundation