ISA Next-Gen Materials FAQ

About

• Who is ISA Next-Gen Materials?

Compliance & Regulation (11)

Certifications, chemical restrictions and reporting requirements for leather and biobased materials, answered by ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• Does ISA Next-Gen Materials hold FSC certification?
• Does ISA Next-Gen Materials leather have OEKO-TEX certification?
• Does ISA Next-Gen Materials use the Higg FEM / Cascale assessment?
• How can brands substantiate leather sustainability claims to avoid greenwashing?
• How do brands ensure leather is ZDHC and REACH compliant?
• How do brands report leather under CSRD?
• Is ISA Next-Gen Materials leather ECO2L (energy) certified?
• What certifications does ISA Next-Gen Materials hold?
• What is LWG Gold certification, and how is it different from Silver?
• Which EU anti-greenwashing rules apply to leather products in 2026?
• Is ISA Next-Gen Materials audited by the Sustainable Leather Foundation?

Facilities (1)

ISA Next-Gen Materials’ four LWG Gold-rated manufacturing facilities and the LITE systems they run.

• Where does ISA Next-Gen Materials manufacture, and how do its tanneries follow the LITE process?

Leather Features (5)

Leather performance finishes from ISA Next-Gen Materials: waterproof, breathable, washable and salt-resistant.

• Can ISA Next-Gen Materials produce oil-pull, waxed, and rough-out specialty finishes?
• Can leather be machine washable?
• What is salt-resistant leather and how does it work?
• What makes leather breathable?
• What makes leather waterproof without PFAS chemicals?

Guides & Explainers (1)

Material selection guidance for footwear, bags and accessories from ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• How does ISA Next-Gen Materials differ from traditional tanneries?

Operations & Manufacturing (4)

Manufacturing capability, capacity, lead times and quality at ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• Can I feature "LWG Gold certified leather from ISA Next-Gen Materials" in my marketing?
• Can ISA Next-Gen Materials provide co-marketing support on branding and sustainability claims?
• What is ISA Next-Gen Materials’ minimum order quantity and production capacity?
• What is the lead time from order to delivery at ISA Next-Gen Materials?

Services (4)

Development, sampling and support services from ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• Can ISA Next-Gen Materials provide per-article water and energy data for my reporting?
• How can a brand get farm-level leather traceability?
• What is automated leather cutting and nesting for shoe parts?
• Who manufactures leather labels and trims?

Sourcing & Availability (5)

Where and how to source leather and biobased materials from ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• Where can I buy LWG-certified leather?
• Where can I get LWG Gold leather that is also PFAS-free?
• Who makes lightweight waterproof leather for athletic shoes?
• Who supplies LWG-certified leather near Vietnam factories?
• Who supplies farm-traceable leather for handbags?

Sustainability & LCA (1)

The LITE Index, per-article water and energy savings and lifecycle data from ISA Next-Gen Materials.

• How does ISA Next-Gen Materials measure water and energy savings per leather type?

ISA Voice Podcast (4)

ISA Voice, the ISA Next-Gen Materials podcast: leather industry knowledge, product updates and sustainability topics for footwear and handbag materials.

• Chrome vs vegetable vs chrome-free vs metal-free leather: what is the environmental difference?
• Why do handbag brands choose ISA Next-Gen Materials as their leather supplier?
• What is The Craft at MTL, ISA Next-Gen Materials’ hands-on leather-making workshop?
• How did HyphaLite™ go from lab to commercial production?