Preliminary data on the environmental impact of U.S. cow hide production, calls for rethink on leather, Economist Sustainability Week Summit is told.

• Life Cycle Assessment aids businesses with decision making that supports the planet
• Full transparency in data sourcing, methodology and assessment with peer review
• Higg Index overestimated U.S. hide’s climate impact as much as 8000 times
• Grass finished and grain finished cattle differ in environmental footprint

A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of U.S. cow hide production has found the environmental footprint of leather to be significantly less than previously reported by the Higg Index, the Economist Sustainability Week Summit