The practical resource, supported by the Tapestry Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, was informed by one-on-one interviews and working sessions with brands participating in the Deforestation‑Free Call to Action for Leather.
The Call to Action, jointly led by WWF, Textile Exchange, and the Leather Working Group, now includes 22 fashion and automotive companies with over $300bn in combined annual revenue, all committed to sourcing verified deforestation-free leather by 2030 or sooner.
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The guide does not offer a single solution but instead enables companies to understand key traceability concepts, assess their supply chain readiness, and follow a practical 10-step roadmap towards full traceability.
It outlines the differences between traceability and certification, helps firms align with global standards, and provides clear steps for supplier engagement, data collection, and verification.
The resource emphasises that achieving traceability is a gradual process involving ongoing pilots, partnerships, and shared learning.
According to WWF, the guide is intended for use by any organisation pursuing deforestation- and conversion-free leather sourcing, regardless of their size or location.
WWF beef and leather supply chains senior director Fernando Bellese said: “The global leather supply chain is extremely complex, and the lack of transparency can pose risks to downstream companies using this valuable material. While adopting traceability has its challenges, collaborative efforts and step-wise approaches can enable real progress in tracing leather back to the landscapes where it originates and sever the link between deforestation and leather production.
“With the new Traceability Guide, companies can move from ambition to implementation. The guide offers a practical roadmap they can use to understand their risks, work more effectively with suppliers, and build the transparency that credible deforestation-free sourcing requires.”
