The aim of LWG is to become the overarching sustainability standard for leather manufacturing, covering all elements and actors in the leather value chain. The organization focuses on ensuring high environmental standards in leather production and transparency within the leather supply chain. Leather manufacturing facilities (tanneries) are audited on different aspects of their production, among them water and energy usage, solid waste management, air and noise pollution, and chemical management. Traders and suppliers are audited on their ability to trace their products

Leather Working Group (LWG) is a global not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization whose work focuses on ensuring environmental sustainability in leather value chains. The organization with its headquarters in the U.K. has over 1,500 member companies from different areas of the value chain, including manufacturers, chemical suppliers, retailers, and brands. LWG represents a quarter of the world’s finished leather production and has audited sites in 55 countries.

LWG awards a certification to tanneries depending on the standard of environmental responsibility in their production processes. Tanneries can achieve a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Audited rating. Transparency and traceability in the supply chain is assessed on whether material is traceable back to the slaughterhouse (or equivalent stage of the supply chain) via physically marking or documentation. These ratings are on a voluntary basis. Brand members of LWG can use the LWG logo mark on their products, following criteria outlined in the LWG Claims Framework.