Leather - Terminology - Key definitions for the leather trade
Material
Industry
Our test laboratory operates in accordance with DIN EN ISO 15987, applying standardized terminology and supporting its use in the testing and evaluation of leather materials. This standard defines the fundamental terms and definitions for the leather trade and industry, and in particular regulates the correct use of the term “leather.”
It ensures that terminology is used clearly, consistently, and in compliance with standards throughout the entire value chain—from manufacturing and processing to marketing.
According to the standard, leather is a material of animal origin whose fibrous structure has been permanently stabilized through the tanning process. Based on this definition, DIN EN ISO 15987 specifies a wide range of leather types and conditions, differentiated by structure, manufacturing process, tanning method, and finishing.
These include, for example:
tanning-related leather types such as chrome-tanned leather, chrome-free leather, metal-free leather, organically tanned leather, and vegetable-tanned leather
finishing-related leather types such as aniline leather, semi-aniline leather, pigmented leather, coated leather, and patent leather
An essential aspect of the standard is also the clear distinction between leather and non-leather materials, such as synthetic leather, fiber-based leather substitutes, or bonded leather materials.
Since DIN EN ISO 15987 is not a test method in the strict sense but a terminology standard, it is applied in combination with physical, chemical, and microscopic test methods required for the clear identification and evaluation of leather, such as DIN EN ISO 17186, DIN EN ISO 17131, or RAL 060 A2, which are also offered by our testing laboratory.