Adapting to a changing leather industry

The leather industry is undergoing a major transformation as consumers, regulators and brands demand more sustainable and ethical practices from manufacturers and suppliers. A key driver of change is the updated ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) 3.1, which sets new limits for hazardous substances in leather chemicals and aims to eliminate their discharge into the environment. 

Released in November 2023, ZDHC MRSL 3.1 covers 204 substances used in various stages of leather production, such as tanning, dyeing, finishing and coating. The list also includes new substances not covered by the previous version, such as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are widely used for water repellency and stain resistance. 

Changing the game for the leather industry … 

The ZDHC MRSL 3.1 is aligned with the most stringent global regulations and standards regarding health and safety. It also follows the principles of green chemistry and the circular economy, which together promote the use of safer alternatives, resource efficiency and waste reduction. 

As such, the list is expected to bring wide-ranging benefits for the leather industry. These include: 

• Improving the quality and safety of leather products and enhancing consumer trust 
• Reducing the environmental and social impacts of leather production and minimising risks for workers and communities 
• Increasing the competitiveness and innovation of leather manufacturers and suppliers, and creating new market opportunities 
• Supporting the alignment and harmonisation of global leather industry standards and facilitating compliance 

Introducing Stahl Neo® 

With the ZDHC MRSL 3.1 in mind, Stahl is proud to launch the renewed Stahl Neo® range: our portfolio of low-impact solutions covering the entire wet-end and finishing stages of leather production. It offers tanners the most comprehensive and future-proof range of solutions on the market – providing peace of mind to stakeholders across the leather article value chain.  

The Stahl Neo® range meets the following criteria: 

• ZDHC: All Stahl Neo® products are in compliance with version 3.1 of the ZDHC MRSL for leather manufacture. 
• EU CMR: Stahl Neo® products are certified free from carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances as per EU criteria. 
• EU REACH SVHC: Stahl Neo® products meet EU REACH criteria for substances of very high concern (SVHC) (less than 0.1% concentration) 

Futureproofing your business  

The leather goods market continues to grow at a rapid pace, and is projected to reach more than USD 730 billion globally by the end of the decade. However, to harness growing demand, producers and brands need to keep an eye on the future trends that will shape the demand and preferences for leather products.  

These trends reflect the changing consumer expectations for leather products that are not only stylish but also sustainable, functional, comfortable and personalised. To meet these expectations, the leather industry needs to connect these trends back to the ZDHC MRSL 3.1 guidelines and ensure that their products are made with safe substances that do not harm people or the planet. 

Ready to learn more about the full Stahl Neo® range?