Currently an increasing number of consumers are changing their patterns of consumption and use increasingly more sustainable products in their everyday life. There is growing demand for products that are manufactured by ethical and transparent brands concerning the materials and environmental impact involved in their production. In March this year, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a directive on "Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition" that aims to ensure consumers get adequate information on durability, repairability and recyclability before purchasing a product.On the other hand, within the Green Deal, governmental demands over consumer goods, landfill legislation and chemical restrictions have been gradually intensified in Europe2. The EU Commission's 2030 strategy for Textiles3 aims to create a greener, more competitive sector; textile products placed on the market must be durable, repairable, recyclable, free of hazardous substances and produced in respect of the environment. This strategy also aims to prevent and mitigate environmental damage through the 'Polluter-pays' principle, where the costs of waste management is to be carried by the original waste producer or by the current or previous waste holders.All these aspects have pushed the leather industry into developing alternative greener materials and production processes that promote faster and more eco-friendly degradation of leather at the end of its useful life.
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