Feeling the pressure from Greenpeace activists, Timberland and Adidas have agreed to cease using leather imported from cattle raised on former Amazon rainforest lands.
Previously, Greenpeace had succeeded in getting Nike to change its practices. At the time, the activist group said its next targets would be Timberland, Clarks, Adidas and Reebok.
Since then, the group has added to its sights other firms that use or sell Amazon leather, including Wal-Mart, Boss, Gucci, Kraft, Louis Vuitton, Eagle Ottawa (supplier of car interiors to major car companies), Geox, Hilfiger, IKEA and Prada.
The push against leather companies follows the release of a report, “Slaughtering the Amazon.” The report details how much of the leather used around the world comes from cattle that were grazed on former Amazon rainforest lands, land that was cleared specifically to raise cattle. Greenpeace says Brazil’s cattle industry is reponsible for 80 percent of the deforestation.
Timberland has put a moratorium on purchases of leather from the region, according to a press release.
Adidas, too, has unveiled a tough set of supplier standards to address the Greenpeace protests, reports JustStyle.
Greenpeace scored a publicity coup July 28 when it tagged the HP headquarters roof with giant letters spelling out “Hazardous Products.” The activist group has been after computer companies to cease using polyvinyl chloride and brominated flame retardants. HP had originally planned to eliminate the chemicals this year, but recently had backtracked, saying it would delay the move until 2011 because it had not found suitable alternatives to the chemicals.
