Kanpur Leather Industry: Balancing Export, Social Responsibility, And Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The leather industry of Kanpur represents a distinctive blend of industrial growth and sustainability challenges. As one of India’s leading export clusters, it provides significant employment and contributes to the country’s foreign exchange reserves. At the same time, it faces increasing pressure to meet global expectations concerning environmental performance and social accountability. This paper explores how the Kanpur leather sector negotiates these interconnected dimensions—export competitiveness, environmental responsibility, and social welfare. Using a qualitative approach and secondary data sources, the analysis reveals gradual but uneven progress toward sustainability. Cleaner production methods and skill development programs have been introduced, yet small-scale units continue to struggle with resource constraints and policy ambiguities. The paper concludes that a balance between economic objectives and sustainable practices is achievable through technological innovation, collective environmental management, and stronger institutional coordination.

Keywords: Kanpur leather industry, sustainability, export competitiveness, social responsibility, environmental governance, cleaner production