VALUE CHAIN
The Catalan leather value chain
From livestock farming to international brands: an integrated industrial ecosystem with a European reach
VALUE CHAIN
A complete value chain with global reach
Catalonia is home to one of the most complete and integrated leather value chains in Europe: an industrial ecosystem in which tanners, the chemical sector, research centres and designers share a region, state-of-the-art collective infrastructure and demanding standards of excellence. Strongly international in character, the sector supplies the world’s leading fashion houses and luxury brands.
In a highly demanding market, Leather Clúster Barcelona has established itself as the leading strategic partner for global buyers who require full traceability, compliance with European regulations and technical savoir-faire of the highest order. Across the different links of its value chain, the sector responds from Igualada, with the utmost precision, to the supply needs of contemporary fashion.
STRUCTURE OF THE CHAIN
How the value chain is structured
Four main stages connect the origin of the raw material with the brands, supported by two cross-cutting layers that run through the entire process.
Origin
- Livestock farming and the meat industry
- Hide warehousing
Processing
- Tanneries and finishing
- Chemicals
Knowledge and technology
- Technology
- Universities and research centres
- Training
Design and production
- Design
- Craftsmanship
- Industrial manufacturing
- Fashion and brands
Cross-cutting layer
Sustainability and environmental management
By-product recovery and circularity at every stage.
Institutional environment
Public administration and services
Strategic support, regulation and services for the chain as a whole.
ORIGINAL AND FUTURE ECOSYSTEM
The leather ecosystem: a circular economy for sustainable fashion
Leather originates as a by-product of the food industry and, thanks to cooperation between a wide range of sectors, is transformed both into valuable materials for fashion and into bio-based products for other industries.
Origin
- Farms
- Meat industry
- Bovine
- Ovine
- Rabbit
- Biomaterials
Hides and biomaterials
Stakeholders involved
- Agritech industry
- Meat industry
- Tanning industry
- Sustainability agents
- Chemical solutions
- Sustainable water industry
- Biotechnology
- Auxiliary components
- Energy, engineering and Industry 4.0
- Knowledge centres
Bio-based products
- Biofertilisers
- Biofuels
- Animal feed
- Human nutrition
- Bio-surfaces
Leather products
- Workshops and ateliers
- Sustainable fashion
- Luxury
- Furniture and design pieces
- History
- R&D and innovation
- People and talent
- Traceability
- Sustainability
- Image and reputation
- Shared value