CICB Sustainability Forum will address one of the most relevant topics for the future of the leather chain

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the environmental impacts of a product or process, from the sourcing of raw materials and inputs to its repurposing. In the leather sector, LCA is already in progress among clients in the footwear, furniture, and automotive industries. That is why LCA will be the main theme of this year’s CICB Sustainability Forum, which will take place on March 19 during the Fimec trade show in Novo Hamburgo (RS). Free registration is available at: www.cicb.org.br/forum2025. Simoultaneous translation into English will be available. 

The CICB Sustainability Forum is an initiative of the Brazilian Leather project, a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The Gold sponsors for this edition are Stahl Leather, Abrameq with Master, NBN, Bremm Beck and Michelon, and Minerva Leather. Silver sponsors include Getti, Viposa, Vancouros, and Sincurt.

According to Ricardo Andrade, CICB’s sustainability advisor, the importance of LCA will grow even further in the coming years, posing new challenges for material suppliers. “For life cycle assessments to be carried out in stages after leather—such as manufacturing and consumption—all materials used in a product must also have their own assessments. This means that the entire productive and industrial ecosystem is involved, and we must be ready for this moment,” he states.
 

Andrade will moderate the closing panel of the Forum, entitled The Future of the Sector and Life Cycle Assessment in Leather. The event’s programme will feature several confirmed speakers, including: Kim Sena (Sustainability Director at JBS, presenting the company’s case on LCA), Jorge Viana (president of ApexBrasil, known for his work in environmental issues), Elena Barone (from the Italian consultancy Spin 360°, a global reference in process analysis and traceability for tanneries and luxury brands), Michael Costello (ESG Director at Stahl), and Otávio Klein (Executive Manager at Minerva Leather).

Registration is limited. Participation in the Forum also requires registration for the Fimec trade show at www.fimec.com.br

Event Details:
CICB Sustainability Forum 2025
Date: March 19 (Wednesday, the second day of Fimec)
Location: Fenac Event Center, Novo Hamburgo, during Fimec
Free registration: www.cicb.org.br/forum2025
Fimec registration: www.fimec.com.br

Programme:
13:30 – Check-in
14:00 – Opening
14:10 – Sustainability and ApexBrasil. Speaker: Jorge Viana, President of ApexBrasil
14:40 – Global tanneries: experiences in environmental data-driven sustainability strategies. Speaker: Elena Barone, Head of Consulting at Spin 360°
15:20 – Life Cycle Assessment at JBS Couros. Speaker: Kim Sena, Sustainability Director at JBS Couros
15:50 – HThe Chemical Contribution: How the chemical industry is reducing the environmental footprint of leather. Speaker: Michael Costello, ESG Director at Stahl
16:10 – Panel Discussion: The Future of the Sector and Life Cycle Assessment in Leather. Moderator: Ricardo Andrade, Sustainability Advisor at CICB. Panelists: Otávio Klein (Executive Manager at Minerva Leather), Elena Barone (Spin 360°), Kim Sena (JBS Couros), and Michael Costello (Stahl)
17:00 – Closing

About Brazilian Leather
Brazilian Leather is a sectoral project for the internationalisation of Brazilian leather, led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). The project implements multiple strategies to consolidate Brazilian leather in foreign markets, such as supporting tanneries’ participation in the world’s leading trade fairs and organising business missions to foster relationships between Brazilian suppliers and international buyers. More information at www.brazilianleather.com.br

About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve its objectives, ApexBrasil carries out a variety of commercial promotion activities to encourage exports and raise the profile of Brazilian products and services worldwide. These activities include trade missions, business matchmaking, support for participation in major international fairs, and bringing foreign buyers and opinion leaders to see Brazil’s productive infrastructure firsthand. The agency also works in collaboration with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Brazil’s strategic sectors, boosting the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country as a whole.

About CICB
The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents the country’s leather-producing companies. Since its foundation in 1957, CICB has worked towards the growth, qualification, strengthening, and unity of the sector. The organisation’s guiding principle is sustainability, under which it undertakes initiatives in technology, training new professionals, engaging with government bodies, promoting commercial activities, advocating for the sector, building a strong reputation, and fostering research and market intelligence. CICB also acts as an institutional representative, promoting dialogue with the production chain and organising working groups on Traceability and Communication with its members nationwide.