Partnerships

We believe that partnerships and collaborations are key to catalyze the process to create a socially and environmentally sustainable leather value chain.

It is therefore that Royal Smit & Zoon closely collaborates with a selected group of leather industry organisations, by sharing our knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.

Leather Naturally

Royal Smit & Zoon is an active member of the Leather Naturally (LN) Association. Leather Naturally, a not-for-profit industry association,   promotes the use of globally-manufactured sustainable leather and seeks to inspire and inform designers, creators, and consumers about its beauty, quality and versatility.

We support LN because we believe that the global audience needs to stay connected with leather, understand and value the unique characteristics and value the sustainability of the material.

The LN website is a resource that anyone can access to obtain balanced information about the leather industry. Content is also promoted via social media and press releases. LN promotes its activities at major leather fairs and selected conferences.

For more information, visit the LN website.

Or follow Leather Naturally on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Our Leather Naturally certification can be found here.

Leather Working Group

Royal Smit & Zoon is an active member of the Leather Working Group (LWG), as we are convinced that this is the leading multi-stakeholder group that drives sustainability in the leather industry.

The LWG is made up of member brands, retailers, product manufacturers, leather manufacturers, chemical suppliers, machinery suppliers, technical experts and other service providers that work together to maintain environmental stewardship protocols for the leather manufacturing industry.

The LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit Standard is the Leather Working Group’s flagship auditing protocol, designed to holistically assess the environmental, social, and governance of leather manufacturers across the leather supply chain.

The LWG Tannery of the Future – Are You Ready for an Audit (Royal Smit & Zoon was one of the founding partners) is a self-assessment tool that supports leather manufacturers in their journey towards environmental excellence, prepare for an actual LWG audit and obtain accompanying LWG certification.

More information on the LWG can be found on LWG’s website.

Our LWG certification can be found here.

Sustainable Leather Foundation

Royal Smit & Zoon was one of the founding partners of the Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF). At the heart of the SLF is the integrated SLF Transparency Dashboard™, to demonstrate sustainable practice throughout the leather value chain from farm to finished product. The tool is linked to an audit certification standard and assesses the compliance and performance of companies working within the leather value chain against the three pillars of sustainability: Environmental, Social, and Governance. Royal Smit & Zoon will continue to support this organization to enable collective improvement and education globally for more sustainable practices in leather manufacturing and production.

More information on the Sustainable Leather Foundation can be found on their website.

View our SLF certificate

Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals

Royal Smit & Zoon has been an active contributor to ZDHC since 2028, as this is the leading initiative that focuses on safer chemistry. We take on an active role by participating in multiple task teams to drive the industry forward.

The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme is a coalition of fashion brands, value chain affiliates and associates. Together we empower the global textile, leather, apparel and footwear value chain to substitute hazardous chemicals for safer ones in the production process. For more information, check the ZDHC website.

Our ZDHC certification can be found here.

TEGEWA

Royal Smit & Zoon is a member of TEGEWA a German association of manufacturers of process and performance chemicals. TEGEWA’s vision is to strengthen the international competitiveness of the leading manufacturers of process and performance chemicals and jointly, assume responsibility as pioneers for the sustainable future of our Industry.

For more information visit the website of TEGEWA.

UNPAC

Codyeco is a member of UNPAC, an Italian national association of leather Chemical Producers to promote the Italian competences in the customized formulation of tanning-chemical auxiliaries towards the domestic and international tanning customers with particular care towards the issues of business sustainability.

For more information visit the website of UNPAC.

Micro-Fresh

Royal Smit & Zoon has obtained exclusive distributorship for the use of Micro-Fresh products on leather worldwide – excluding the United States of America. Smit & Zoon, including its subsidiary Codyeco and agents, has a global network that will be used to supply the Micro-Fresh products and services for leather finishing. This partnership enables Micro-Fresh to expand and us to support the use the Micro-Fresh products on leather.

For more information visit the website of Micro-Fresh.