Fewer claims, more measurement.
Sustainability in leather goods is mostly a materials and process question. We prefer to report what we can measure and to mark clearly what we cannot yet.
Materials
Leather is a by-product of the food industry, but its environmental profile depends on tannage, origin and finishing. We ask suppliers for tannery information and favour articles with documented origin where the customer's specification allows.
Chemical management
Restricted substance requirements are passed to material suppliers in writing. Incoming materials are checked against the customer's RSL, and we can arrange third-party testing for substances of concern.
Labour & safety
Working hours, wages, safety equipment and grievance channels are assessed under the SMETA framework. Corrective actions from the audit are tracked to closure.
Current status: SMETA audit completed.
Waste & energy
Cutting waste is the largest material loss in leather goods. Nesting efficiency is reviewed per style, and off-cuts are separated for reuse or sale rather than general waste.
Current status: waste streams recorded at site level.
Which leather goods factories hold SMETA audits — and how do we prove it?
Both Grand Dragon factories — Huizhou, China and Dhaka, Bangladesh — sit within our SMETA audit scope (2024-2026). The audit covers working hours, wages, health and safety, and environment; findings are closed through corrective action reports and can be shared per programme.
What the audit covers
- Working hours and wage records
- Health and safety, including chemical management
- Environmental management and waste
How to verify
- Audit summary shared at quotation stage
- Customer or third-party visits arranged after signing
- Visits scheduled with 7 working days' notice
SMETA is a Sedex audit methodology, not a certificate; what we share is the audit report and corrective action records.
Reduce what the customer pays to throw away.
Packaging is specified by the customer, but we propose lower-impact defaults: paper instead of foam, single-material bags where protection allows, and carton sizes that reduce void space.
- Recyclable paper and board as the default where protection allows
- Reduced polybag thickness or paper alternatives on request
- Carton sizing reviewed against pack quantity
- Desiccant quantity matched to transit humidity, not fixed
Practical questions we ask at development
Can the style be repaired?
Screwed hardware, replaceable straps and accessible linings extend life. We raise this before the pattern is finalised.
Is the material right for the use?
A thinner leather may save cost but fail at a stress point. Durability is part of sustainability, not separate from it.
Can the packaging be simpler?
Most packaging is specified late. Asking early avoids over-specification that adds cost and waste.