Natural Materials, Shared Supply Chains: Textile, Leather and Food Systems in Transition

Natural materials such as fibres, leather and food products are deeply interconnected through shared upstream supply chains, starting from agriculture, livestock and land use. Despite being regulated and managed as separate sectors, they face increasingly similar challenges: traceability requirements, sustainability pressures, waste management, by-product valorisation and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. This panel explores the structural interdependencies between textile, leather and food value chains, highlighting how decisions made at the upstream level directly affect material quality, environmental performance and circularity outcomes downstream. By fostering a dialogue across sectors, the session aims to promote a more integrated approach to natural material governance, moving beyond silos and enabling systemic solutions for sustainability and circular economy.