We all know the leather trade is bad for animals. But did you realize it hurts the environment, too? Leather production - just like animal-based agriculture -
requires huge amounts of land, water, and other resources in order to raise the living animals who are then slaughtered for their skin and flesh.
The livestock industry is one of the world's largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore to climate change. It is also one of the leading causes of deforestation.That's why it's so exciting to learn that more and more companies are turning to
plant-based leather alternatives made with all-natural resources like
grapes, cactus, kombucha, mushrooms, pineapples, apples, bananas, and more. Innovative brands are increasingly proving that sustainable, eco-friendly "leather" is durable and desirable for all types of products, including shoes and bags. So why are some major fashion houses so resistant to change?
Sign the petition to demand major fashion brands like Prada, Versace, Armani, Michael Kors, Zara, H&M, Coach, Chanel and more replace animal leather with plant-based alternatives!Plant-based leather is full of benefits for animals and the planet. For starters,
no living creatures would be caged and imprisoned, enduring lifetimes of suffering before being slaughtered for our clothing. Additionally, plant leather has a carbon footprint that is approximately 40 times smaller than animal leather, and 17 times less than plastic- and petrol-based leather. At the end of its use, clothing made out of plant "hides" can be biodegraded. And there's also less waste in the production line: for example, grape-based leather is made using discarded grape skins that are tossed at the end of wine-making.
The fur-free movement has shown us that change is possible. With enough pressure, even the most prominent brands in the world will finally choose innovative alternatives over suffering-based options.
Over the past several years, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Michael Kors, Zara, H&M, and hundreds of other brands have committed to phasing out fur in their products. And if companies like these are willing to eliminate fur from their clothing, it's time for them to remove leather, too. Already, Gucci is exploring the use of leather alternatives. But its peers haven't followed suit yet.
There's no such thing as ethical or "cruelty-free" animal leather. Tell all major fashion houses, including Prada, Versace, Armani, Michael Kors, Zara, H&M, Coach, and Chanel to go leather-free!