Driving change: Bridge of Weir Triumphs at Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards
Marie Claire UK’s Sustainability Awards is an annual celebration and recognition of brands, organisations and products dedicated to implementing positive change and shaping a more sustainable future. In a world grappling with climate challenges, the awards identify trailblazing companies that are driving significant progress in sustainability and inspiring others to follow suit.
Bridge of Weir Leather is honoured to have won the Sustainable Interior award in the Motor category with Andrea Thompson, Sustainability Awards judge and Marie Claire UK’s Editor in Chief, praising our commitment by stating: "[Bridge of Weir] is leading the way in sustainable interiors for motors."
Marie Claire scoured hundreds of companies that are truly leading the charge in sustainability and laying the foundation for a better tomorrow.
All applications were required to demonstrate their sustainability claims with evidence to ensure a rigorous process, before being presented to a diverse panel of more than 50 sustainability experts.
The awards highlighted transportation as a significant contributor to carbon emissions, posing a substantial climate challenge. Marie Claire UK commended Bridge of Weir Leather with the Sustainable Interior award for being a leader in sustainability, inspiring others through its dedication and innovation to circular and ethical leather production.
We are proud to be recognised by the judges for our life cycle analysis (LCA) result of 8kg CO2 e/m2 on average leather product and for being the only automotive leather manufacturer to publish an independent LCA. We were also praised for our commitment to transparency, ethical standards, and gender equality practices.
Our leather production starts with responsible sourcing, with 100% traceability and zero risk of deforestation in the raw hide supply chain. Our leather is the ultimate upcycled material, created through a 'circular' low-impact manufacturing process. We utilise raw hides from the local beef and dairy industries, with over 98% sourced within the UK and Ireland. This upcycling approach prevents these hides from ending up in landfills, where they would emit hundreds of tonnes of harmful methane emissions each year.
Since 2003, Scottish Leather Group, of which Bridge of Weir is a part, has reduced the average carbon intensity per hide by an impressive 90%. This is achieved through the use of 100% renewable electricity and the conversion of process waste into energy. A new £14 million Super Tannery has also just been opened to further accelerate our sustainability leadership by investing in advanced tanning equipment that reduces energy and water use by 82% and 42%, respectively.
To find out more about the award winners in the other categories, read the Marie Claire article.