LWG Certified Leather Explained

In brief: LWG, the Leather Working Group, certification is an environmental auditing standard that assesses leather manufacturers across environmental management, waste, water use, energy, chemical management and traceability. Tanneries are rated Gold, Silver or Bronze based on performance, with the audit covering the whole journey from raw hide to finished leather. Vivienne Westwood requires all its leather to meet LWG standards.

What is LWG certified leather?

LWG stands for the Leather Working Group, and its certification is an environmental auditing standard for leather manufacturing. Rather than judging the finished leather alone, it assesses a tannery's compliance and performance across a broad set of measures: environmental management, waste management, water usage, energy consumption, chemical management and traceability. In other words, it looks at how responsibly the leather is made, not just how it looks.

How the rating works

LWG awards one of three rating tiers, Gold, Silver or Bronze, based on a tannery's environmental performance scores. The audit covers the full scope of production, evaluating tanneries all the way from raw hide to finished leather. It ensures restricted substance compliance, proper water treatment, sound waste management and a commitment to continuous improvement. The tiered system makes it easy to see at a glance how a producer performs against the standard.

Why LWG certification matters

Leather production has long raised questions about chemical usage, water consumption and waste. LWG provides independent verification that a tannery meets established environmental benchmarks, giving a credible answer to those concerns. According to Vivienne Westwood, the brand requires all leather products to meet LWG environmental auditing standards, ensuring accountability from tannery to finished product. Independent certification is what separates a genuine claim from a vague one.

LWG Certified Leather at OD's Designer Clothing

Vivienne Westwood leather goods in our collection use LWG-certified leather, which distinguishes responsibly sourced material from unverified alternatives. For shoppers who care about how their leather is made, the certification is a useful, verifiable marker. Browse our Vivienne Westwood range to find pieces made to this standard.