The Italian Tanners' Association is the most important association in the world for tanning companies. It has been protecting its associate companies since 1946 and represents a strategic industry, which is a fundamental component of Italy's manufacturing and economic fabric. It not only promotes the interests of the sector, it also represents it on every level, boosts innovation, enhances both its social and environmental role and sets up commercial companies that are functional to the sectorial market. It is a member of Confindustria, Cotance the European Confederation of Tanners and ICT the International Council of Tanners. The Italian tanning industry employs 17.698 people in about 1,200 companies. It's annual turnover is 5 billion Euros and it has always been considered to be the worlds leading industry thanks to its high level of technological development and quality, its outstanding environmental commitment and its ability to innovate in terms of stylistic design. Production is currently 128 million square meters of finished leather and 10,000 tons of sole leather. The industry is made up, more or less, of small-medium-sized companies, which are mainly located in specialized districts divided up by the type of processing and the destination of the goods.