The law is an asset

摘要

There is no over-stating the importance of a new law protecting leather's identity that will come into force in Italy this October. Approved by the country's council of ministers at the end of May, a new decree on what manufacturers and brands can and cannot call leather was published in the government's official journal of record on June 26 and is now part of the laws of the land. Laws come into force 120 days after publication, which makes October 24 the date for the changes to take effect. This will help leather win the recognition it deserves as an excellent example of the circular economy in action. It is a clear and obvious demonstration that human beings are capable of taking waste material and turning it into something useful, versatile, valuable and beautiful; we have been doing this for millennia. However, it is clear that some companies misuse the term 'leather' by applying it to synthetic substitutes; they are detracting from this noble effort to put waste to good use instead of putting it into landfill or allowing it to leak into our oceans.