A group of leading footwear brands have called for an immediate suspension on deforesting activity from their Brazilian leather suppliers, it was reported today.
The group, including sportswear labels Nike and Adidas, as well as Clarks and Timberland, have demanded their leather suppliers to immediately stop sending them products sourced from illegal farms in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The move follows an investigation by the environmental charity Greenpeace, which was subsequently reported in the Guardian today, which found that many leading Brazilian leather and beef suppliers to the UK were sourcing cows from farms involved in illegal deforestation. Cattle farming is thought to be the biggest threat to the Amazon rainforest, according to Greenpeace.
The report also stated that the footwear brands have ordered the suppliers to implement a traceability system within a year, which will track where all leather goods supplied from Brazil to the UK are sourced from.
A Clarks spokesperson said in a statement: "Clarks will require suppliers of Brazilian leather to certify, in writing, that they are not supplying products from recently deforested areas in the Amazon biome."
Picture: Nike 6.0 shoes.
greenpeace.org.uk
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