Great anticipation surrounding the Aqeic Leather Audit

Last Tuesday 9 February at 6 p.m., the cluster organised, together with Aqeic and Acexpiel, an online session at which an audit model aimed at companies in the leather sector was presented, with the aim of promoting good sustainability practices with particular attention to the generation of social and environmental value.

The session generated great interest in the leather sector, bringing together 30 companies.

The event was opened by Jordi Vidal, executive director of Leather Cluster Barcelona, who thanked Acexpiel for co-organising it.

On behalf of Aqeic (the Spanish Chemical Association of the Leather Industry), the new audit was presented by Anna Bacardit and Aroha Frías, who stressed that the audit is aimed at all types of companies in the leather industry value chain. This new audit model, whose core chapters focus on the social and labour aspects and on environmental sustainability, aims to standardise processes and establish the basic principles of continuous improvement, to advise on operational improvements within the organisation and to enhance the company’s image and customer confidence. Certification is carried out by the AQEIC Audit Committee, made up of a team of technical experts with experience in the sector, who work in collaboration with the Centre for Specific Studies in Leather Engineering (Igualada Campus – Universitat de Lleida), as well as with the A3 Leather Innovation Center.

Following Aqeic’s explanation, three tanning companies that had already undergone the audit and obtained the Aqeic Audit Label took part in the session. Lluís Ollé of Curtits Aqualata, Diego Navarro of Curtits Badia and Pere Tomàs of Despell all agreed in stressing that this is a very comprehensive and professional audit, more intelligible and less bureaucratic than other audits on the market. They also highlighted that it identifies relevant areas for improvement that companies can act on immediately.

The session ended with an open debate among those attending, which underlined the importance of having an audit of this standard for the national leather sector and the need to back the Aqeic Leather Audit so that it gains prestige and greater recognition from brands and can become a certification recognised by consumers.