Inescop joins World Leather Day 2026 with a focus on durability
Inescop joins World Leather Day 2026 with a focus on durability
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On 29 April, World Leather Day 2026 will be celebrated, a global initiative promoted by "Leather Naturally" and "Leather Working Group" that brings together the entire leather value chain to highlight this material and its role in a more responsible economy. At Inescop, we are joining this initiative from the perspective of our own experience, reinforcing a clear message: sustainability in footwear is not achieved through new materials alone, but through decisions that prioritise durability, responsible design and the valorisation of existing resources.
This year, the campaign is built around the slogan “Make It Leather”, a call to action aimed at companies, designers and consumers to choose durable, versatile materials designed to last over time.
At Inescop, we are joining this international initiative by reinforcing a clear message: sustainability in footwear is not achieved through new materials alone, but through decisions that prioritise durability, responsible design and the valorisation of existing resources.
Measuring what could not be measured before: footwear durability
One of the sector’s major historical challenges has been the objective measurement of durability. Until now, there were no tools capable of translating footwear performance into a clear and comparable figure for companies and consumers.
Although methodologies such as PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) already incorporate durability in terms of number of uses, at Inescop we have gone one step further by turning that concept into an indicator that is understandable and applicable for the sector. After years of research and the knowledge accumulated in our laboratories, we have developed our own method to estimate footwear durability in years, based on real tests and experimental data.
This represents a change of paradigm:
It makes it possible to take design decisions based on data.
It facilitates the communication of value to the market.
It consolidates durability as a key sustainability indicator.
New durability certification: from measurement to trust
As a natural evolution of this development, Inescop has launched its durability certification, which allows companies to demonstrate the performance of their products objectively. This certification responds to a growing market need: to support attributes such as resistance, quality and footwear lifespan with technical evidence.
At a time when consumers demand greater transparency, measuring and certifying durability becomes a key tool for differentiation.
From waste to resource: advances in leather valorisation
Alongside durability, another of the pillars of sustainability is the efficient management of materials.
In this field, Inescop has developed the RECUBIC project, focused on addressing one of the sector’s major challenges: the management of leather waste. Through pyrolysis — a thermal decomposition process carried out in the absence of oxygen — it is possible to transform this waste into valuable fractions such as biochar, oils and gases, opening up new routes for its use.
The resulting biochar shows advanced properties, such as high porosity and a large specific surface area, making it particularly interesting for industrial applications in areas such as pollutant adsorption, catalysis and environmental treatment. This approach makes it possible to turn a complex waste stream into a high value-added resource, contributing to more circular and efficient models in the leather industry.
Science, technology and service for the leather sector
Beyond research, Inescop supports companies in the leather and footwear sectors with technical solutions aimed at improving the quality, performance and sustainability of their products.
Its capabilities include:
• Specialised laboratory testing for leather and materials: physical, mechanical, chemical and performance properties.
• Evaluation of performance such as resistance, flexing, abrasion and ageing.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to measure the environmental impact of products.
• Technical advice on material and process selection.
• Development of circular economy solutions, such as RECUBIC and PLASRECO.
Inescop at the service of a more sustainable industry
On the occasion of World Leather Day, Inescop reaffirms its commitment to a more innovative, sustainable and competitive footwear and leather industry.
Through applied research, the development of its own methodologies and technical support for companies, Inescop helps transform the sector with real, measurable solutions aligned with today’s challenges.
Because moving towards a more sustainable industry is not only a matter of materials, but also of knowledge, technology and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
