CICB and Imaflora partner to enhance sustainability across Brazil’s leather and meat supply chains

The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB, the entity representing the country’s tanneries) and the Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Management and Certification (Imaflora) have announced the signing of a technical cooperation agreement that marks an important step forward in promoting best practices within Brazil’s leather and meat value chains. The partnership will disseminate and strengthen sustainability tools from both entities, such as the "Boi na Linha" Program (a unified system of monitoring, reporting, and verification developed by Imaflora) and the CICB Raw Material Guide (a step-by-step document for obtaining records on the origin of hides).

With the agreement in place, CICB and Imaflora will promote their respective sustainability programs to their audiences — including tannery professionals, cattle ranchers, and the meatpacking industry — resulting in an exchange of dialogue and values among various stakeholders in the supply chain. Training, awareness actions, use of communication platforms, and media engagement will support interaction with the actors involved in the system.

The partnership represents a significant step towards fostering a more transparent value chain that aligns with market demands, as explained by Ricardo Andrade, CICB’s technical and sustainability advisor. “Building a leather sector aligned with high standards of excellence starts long before a hide reaches the tannery. This is why the agreement between CICB and Imaflora is so relevant: it conveys the purpose of both organizations to diverse audiences, fostering cooperation to spread knowledge for more responsible production and the promotion of values across an extensive chain,” Ricardo notes. He emphasizes that Brazilian leather is highly focused on the international market, with 80% of the country’s production destined for export. With new legislation imposing stricter monitoring requirements on the horizon, Ricardo explains, the involvement of indirect suppliers is crucial for meeting the demands of Brazil's leather clients, including major brands in over 80 countries.

For Lisandro Inakake, Project Manager for Agricultural Supply Chains at Imaflora, the leather industry's adherence to the "Boi na Linha" protocol is emblematic: “It reinforces the perception that, as the climate crisis worsens, socio-environmental compliance requirements are becoming universal. Even in more sophisticated and high-value markets, such as Brazilian leather, there remains the challenge of ensuring the supply chain is free from deforestation and illegal activities, such as slave labor and illegal occupation of land and protected areas—two key pillars of the monitoring system designed by the 'Boi na Linha' protocol.” Established five years ago, the protocol will enhance credibility and security regarding the origin of hides.

With an initial duration of three years, the agreement between CICB and Imaflora reinforces both organizations’ commitment to the continuous improvement of the sector, particularly regarding the traceability of a critical raw material. The initiatives will seek to engage companies in adopting best practices to meet global market demands and will be shared through the partners' media channels.

About Imaflora

Since 1995, Imaflora has been working to promote the sustainable and inclusive use of natural resources. Its actions balance environmental conservation and economic development, serving the demands of forestry, agricultural, and socio-biodiversity supply chains, as well as the climate agenda. Imaflora provides fieldwork, technical assistance, ESG services, certifications, and research and data development. (www.imaflora.org)

About CICB

The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents the companies that produce leather in the country. Since its founding in 1957, CICB has sought the growth, qualification, strengthening, and unity of the sector. The organization’s guiding principle is sustainability, through which it leads technology projects, professional development, and dialogue with government entities. Visit: www.cicb.org.br