Surplus Leather Project
Working to support a thriving and connected UK leather industry
First established in 2022, we now have an ongoing Surplus Leather Project, with thanks to our wholesale partner, Abbey England, who manages donations and distribution of donated leather to our education partners; the tanneries who donate the skins; and our leather education partners who give access to and teach their students how to use them.
Each of the donated hides are surplus to customer requirements and would otherwise have been stored indeterminately or ended up in landfill. Our leather education partners have free rein regarding how best to engage their students with the material and approach it in a range of ways, from holding special workshops or masterclasses to integrating it as part of specific projects or classes.
Tanneries and leatherworking businesses involved
Current contributors:
Scottish Leather Group, Charles F Stead, Tusting, MYGroup and some individuals as well.
Previous support was received from:
Pittards (2022), Skyeskins (2022), Waltham Tannery (2024), Sedgwick (2024), GH Leathers (2024), (2025).
Read more from each of the partners and about the project via Abbey England
See where surplus leather has been donated to
Click on the regions of the map to view where surplus leather has been donated to across the UK.
This map and table provides details of surplus donations made in recent years. More information can be found here.
| Organisation | Region | Courses provided for |
|---|
