Fashion

VF Corp stops sourcing leather from Brazil


The VF Corporation, parent to brands like Timberland, the North Face,
Vans, Dickies and Kipling, announced on Friday that it would no longer
source leather from Brazil due to environmental concerns. From 1st January
to 20th August 2019, fires in the Brazilian Amazon have increased by 84
percent compared to the same period last year according to data from the
National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

“VF Corporation and our brands have decided to no longer directly source
leather and hides from Brazil for our international businesses until we
have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products
do not contribute to environmental harm in the country,” said the company
in a statement according to ABC News.

The company also informed the Center for the Brazilian Tanning Industry
(CICB) about its suspension of leather purchases from the country on
account of the fires. In a letter to Brazil’s minister of agriculture, the
CICB president conveyed his concern about VF Corp.’s decision.

The cause of this massive burning of the Brazilian Amazon are most
likely ranchers who clear land for their cattle, not only producing beef
but also leather. “Brazil is the second biggest exporter of beef supplying
20 percent of the world’s beef (second only to America). It follows that
Brazil’s cattle rangers are supplying the same proportion of the world’s
leather,” according to Fashion Revolution.

“The fashion industry must take responsibility for the leather handbags,
shoes and accessories contributing to the deforestation of the
rainforests,” demands the advocacy group, calling brands to be transparent
about how they are sourcing leather from Brazil and making sure it is not
connected to the country’s cattle ranches.

As this can be difficult, more brands and retailers may follow VF
Corp.’s example and stop sourcing leather from Brazil altogether.
Sportswear brand Nike for example has already taken steps to ensure that
their materials are not supporting the deforestation of the Amazon after
the 2009 Greenpeace report “Slaughtering the Amazon” shed light on the
lengthy trails of beef and hides from Amazon slaughterhouse to retail
shelves worldwide.

Environmentalists blame Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for the
massive increase in deforestation and fires in the Amazon this year as the
ultra-right head of state who questions man-made climate change is closely
allied with the Brazilian agricultural lobby and has relaxed environmental
requirements: Brazilian farmers have recently been allowed to burn 20
hectares instead of five. In addition, the authorities meant to prevent
illegal deforestation have lost power under Bolsonaro.

Due to international pressure, Bolsonaro issued a decree on Wednesday
prohibiting the burning of land to open up pastures and arable land for 60
days. However, experts criticise that the ban comes too late and is not
far-reaching enough. Plus, there was a change made to it already on Friday,
excluding fires outside the nine states of the Amazon region that are
necessary and approved for harvesting from the ban.

Last Monday, luxury conglomerate LVMH’s CEO Bernard Arnault and Yann
Arthus-Bertrand, member of LVMH’s board of directors, announced that LVMH
would join French president Macron and the G7 initiative by contributing 10 million euros to help fight the
wildfires that are ravaging the Amazon – an offer that the Brazilian
government has since rejected.

Image: Fashion Revolution



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