Abstract: Tanning is the key process to turn rawhide into leather. At present, chrome tanning agent still occupies 90% of the tanning agent market because of its excellent properties. However, Cr³⁺ can be converted to carcinogenic Cr⁶⁺, as well as the potential risk of chrome-tanning wastewater to the ecosystem also cannot be ignored. Therefore, chrome-free tanning agents become a hot topic. Among them, biomass materials have attracted much attention because of their wide source, excellent renewability and biodegradability. In this paper, the biomass materials such as polysaccharides and proteins were introduced, as well as the research progress for the modification of the biomass materials, and their application in leather manufacturing process were summarized. Meantime, the development prospect and application of biomass-based tanning agents were prospected.