About the Event 

The EU's evolving policy agenda on sustainability and circularity, including the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the upcoming Circular Economy Act, underlines the importance of better valorising renewable, bio-based resources within Europe's economy. Livestock systems contribute to this objective by generating valuable by-products such as wool and leather, which can play a key role in circular bioeconomy ecosystems and support the transition towards more sustainable and resource-efficient value chains.

These materials provide significant environmental and socio-economic benefits, including their renewable and biodegradable nature, their contribution to rural livelihoods, and their role in maintaining viable farming systems. However, their full potential remains underutilised. In parallel, ongoing developments in EU environmental footprint methodologies risk creating unintended consequences. Current approaches, including default durability values, may not adequately reflect the longevity and environmental performance of natural materials such as wool and leather, potentially disadvantaging them in favour of fossil fuel-based alternatives.

This Intergroup session will explore how wool and leather production can positively contribute to environmental objectives, while raising awareness of the key policy and methodological challenges that need to be addressed. It will bring together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss how to better recognise the value of livestock by-products, ensure fair and science-based environmental assessment frameworks, and support a more coherent policy environment aligned with the EU's sustainability and circular economy ambitions. 

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