Gold
85% to 100% in every critical section.
What Is LWG Certified Leather?
LWG certified leather comes from a tannery audited by the Leather Working Group. The audit scores how the facility handles energy, water, waste, chemicals and traceability, and rates it Gold, Silver, Bronze or Audited. It rates the factory. The finished product isn't assessed, and animal welfare isn't one of its sections.
What LWG checks
- Energy and water use, air and noise emissions, waste and effluent treatment
- Chemical management, restricted substances and chromium VI management
- Traceability of incoming hides and outgoing leather
- Health, safety and emergency preparedness
- Operating permits and environmental management systems
What LWG doesn’t cover
- The finished product. LWG says its audit doesn't include a full product assessment.
- Animal welfare, which isn't one of the audit's sections
- The brand itself. LWG certifies leather manufacturers, so a brand claim depends on which tannery made its leather.
The four LWG ratings
Each section of the audit gets a score, and the overall rating is the lowest one achieved.
Silver
75% to 84%.
Bronze
65% to 74%.
Audited
50% to 64%. The tannery passed the audit without earning a medal.
How to check a LWG certificate
LWG keeps a public directory of certified suppliers.
- Find the tannery. Look for the tannery's name in the brand's materials, or ask the brand which tannery made the leather.
- Search the directory. Enter the name and check its rating. You can filter by rating, country and tannage type, including chrome-free and vegetable.
LWG questions
Is all LWG certified leather Gold rated?
No. A tannery can be certified at Gold, Silver, Bronze or Audited. The rating is the lowest score across its critical sections, so a single weak area pulls it down.
Does LWG test leather for harmful chemicals?
LWG audits how a tannery manages chemicals and restricted substances, including chromium VI. It doesn't assess the finished product. For lab testing of the leather itself, look for the OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD.
Which audit version is current?
The leather manufacturer audit known as P7, launched in 2021. LWG has updated it since, most recently in May 2025.