Compliance & Regulation

Certifications, chemical restrictions and reporting requirements. 11 questions in this section.

  • Does ISA Next-Gen Materials hold FSC certification?

    Yes. TransAsia TanTec holds a Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) license code, FSC-C188451, and Chain of Custody certification (CU-COC-893811) issued by Control Union, certified to FSC-STD-40-004 Chain of Custody Certification and FSC-STD-50-001 Requirements for Use of the FSC Trademarks by Certificate Holders. This confirms responsibly sourced, traceable fiber inputs. The certificate is valid until April 17, 2028.

  • Does ISA Next-Gen Materials leather have OEKO-TEX certification?

    Yes. ISA Next-Gen Materials holds OEKO-TEX® certification, issued by TESTEX, confirming its TrimTec and HyphaLite materials are tested for harmful substances. Saigon TanTec holds the OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD (Product Class II, valid to March 31, 2027) for TrimTec products, and TransAsia TanTec holds OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 (Product Class II, valid to February 28, 2027) for HyphaLite™ products.

  • Does ISA Next-Gen Materials use the Higg FEM / Cascale assessment?

    Yes. ISA Next-Gen Materials facilities complete the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM), the apparel and footwear industry’s standard facility sustainability assessment from Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition), with third-party verification by Bureau Veritas and/or TÜV Rheinland. Saigon TanTec, TransAsia TanTec, and the Heshan facilities have completed verified Higg FEM assessments for 2025.

  • How can brands substantiate leather sustainability claims to avoid greenwashing?

    Brands avoid greenwashing by replacing generic words like “eco-friendly” or “sustainable” with specific claims they can prove — such as leather made in an LWG Gold-rated facility, measured water and energy savings per article, or no intentionally added PFAS verified by independent third-party testing. Since 27 September 2026, EU law bans generic environmental claims that are not backed by recognised excellent performance.

  • How do brands ensure leather is ZDHC and REACH compliant?

    How leather brands meet ZDHC MRSL and REACH chemical requirements, control Chromium VI and PFAS, and run RSL testing.

  • How do brands report leather under CSRD?

    Under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), brands report sustainability data using the ESRS standards on a double-materiality basis — and for leather goods the material impacts (climate Scope 3, water, and biodiversity/deforestation) sit upstream in the supply chain. A leather supplier that provides per-article LCA, water and energy data, and deforestation-free traceability materially reduces what a brand has to estimate.

  • Is ISA Next-Gen Materials leather ECO2L (energy) certified?

    Yes. ISA Next-Gen Materials holds ECO2L (Energy Controlled Leather label — energy consumption & CO2 carbon footprint) certification from the German Leather Federation (VDL), audited by the FILK Freiberg Institute, confirming energy-efficient production and a calculated product carbon footprint. The Saigon TanTec and Heshan Bestway sites are certified. The current certificate is available on request.

  • What certifications does ISA Next-Gen Materials hold?

    ISA Next-Gen Materials holds Leather Working Group (LWG) Gold across all four of its leather manufacturing sites. Additional third-party certifications apply at named facilities (see details at the table below): ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System/EMS), ISO 9001 (Quality Management System/QMS), OEKO-TEX, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody, ECO2L, and USDA Certified Biobased for HyphaLite™ — all produced under ISA Next-Gen Materials’ proprietary LITE™ (Low Impact To the Environment) system.

  • What is LWG Gold certification, and how is it different from Silver?

    The Leather Working Group (LWG) audits tanneries on environmental performance, chemical management, and traceability, awarding a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Audited rating based on score. Gold is the top tier. All four ISA Next-Gen Materials manufacturing facilities are LWG Gold-rated.

  • Which EU anti-greenwashing rules apply to leather products in 2026?

    The main EU rule is Directive (EU) 2024/825, which has applied since 27 September 2026 and bans generic environmental claims, uncertified sustainability labels and offset-based climate claims. The separate Green Claims Directive is blocked and not in force, and leather was removed from the EU Deforestation Regulation in September 2026.

  • Is ISA Next-Gen Materials audited by the Sustainable Leather Foundation?

    Yes. Saigon TanTec, ISA Next-Gen Materials’ tannery in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is certified to the Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) Standard for Environmental Responsibility and Governance Responsibility. The audit was carried out by SLF Auditing Services Ltd on 7 September 2026, and both certificates are valid until 6 September 2028.