Standards we stand behind.
The credentials of the group’s tanneries, explained in plain language, and what you can ask to see.
Credentials
Held by the group’s tanneries.
A certification belongs to the entity that holds it. These belong to the tanneries our leather comes from, KKSK Tanning Company Pvt Ltd and KKSK Hides Pvt Ltd. We describe them exactly, and we do not claim them for TARS itself.
LWG Gold
Two group tanneries
What it is. The Leather Working Group audits tanneries and rates their environmental performance. Gold is among the highest ratings.
What it covers. Water, energy, chemical and waste management, and traceability at the tannery.
Ask for. The current certificate and audit summary for the tannery making your leather.
ISO 9001
Group tanneries
What it is. An international standard for quality management systems.
What it covers. Documented processes, checks, records and corrective action.
Ask for. The certificate, its scope and validity date.
ISO 14001
Group tanneries
What it is. An international standard for environmental management systems.
What it covers. How environmental impacts are identified, controlled, measured and improved.
Ask for. The certificate, its scope and validity date.
Higg FEM
Group tannery, verified
What it is. The Higg Facility Environmental Module, from the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (now Cascale), assesses a facility’s environmental performance.
What it covers. Energy, water, wastewater, emissions, waste and chemicals, reported in a standard format and verified independently.
Ask for. The verification date and summary of results.
Sedex
Group tannery, audited
What it is. Sedex is a platform on which suppliers share ethical and responsible sourcing data. Audits often follow the SMETA method.
What it covers. Labour standards, health and safety, environment and business ethics.
Ask for. The date of the latest audit and the summary of findings.
ZDHC MRSL and ZLD
Group tanneries
What it is. The ZDHC programme provides a manufacturing restricted substances list for chemical inputs. Zero liquid discharge means no liquid effluent leaves the site.
What it covers. The chemicals used in making leather, and how wastewater is treated and reused.
Ask for. Chemical management and effluent documentation.
Testing
Tested to a restricted substances list.
Leather is tested to the group’s restricted substances list, which consolidates the brand lists the group supplies to. Test reports are available per article.
Guides
Read more.
- Certifications
ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in plain English
What these two well-known standards cover, and what they do and do not prove.
- Certifications
Higg FEM and Sedex: what they are and what to ask
Two tools many brands ask suppliers to use, explained simply.
- Sustainability
What LWG Gold-rated tanneries mean for leather goods buyers
Why the tannery behind your leather matters, and what to ask any supplier about sourcing.
Documents
Certificates on request.
Tell us which documents you need and we will send them, with the catalogue.
Request documents