“Labour rights, transparency concerns in Brazil’s leather supply chain”, 19 May 2025

The research, which spanned six months in 2024, studied more than 100 sources, including scholarly articles, studies, opinion pieces, and news coverage...

The report titled “Toward promoting human rights and decent working conditions in the leather supply chain” aims to provide a detailed examination of Brazil’s leather sector, assessing both its global and national dimensions to pinpoint labour and human rights challenges, chart obstacles, and highlight ongoing efforts...

The leather sector in Brazil, with a valuation of approximately $3bn, holds the position of the world's third-largest after Italy and the US...

…Brazil processes around 40m hides annually and serves 80 international markets. The European Union receives a significant portion of these exports, accounting for 25% or roughly 8m hides. The industry is supported by 244 tanneries and provides employment to around 30,000 individuals...

Key insights on the Brazil leather supply chain

Supply chain opacity…

Labour and human rights concerns: Workers are said to encounter considerable hazards throughout the leather production cycle…