New report reveals leather industry green-washing and political lobbying against positive progress

A new report from Collective Fashion Justice, ‘Fabricating the Truth’, uncovers a social media-led disinformation campaign by the leather industry, mirrored by industry lobbying against regulation and political reform towards sustainable and ethical fashion.

While the leather industry carefully crafted its perception as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based materials (which we indeed must phase out), it has also looked to Big Oil’s campaign of climate denialism not in horror, but for inspiration. 

The leather industry works to promote itself as producing a responsible material essential to supporting fashion’s sustainability goals. Not only labelling itself as benign and without harm to the planet, people and our fellow animals, leather industry groups go further, claiming to be advocates for a greener future for us all, allies in our movement to create a slow, sustainable and ethical fashion future.

The reality of animal-derived leather production, promotion and lobbying could not be more different. 

To ensure that a profitable, positive perception of leather is maintained, leather trade and lobbying groups spend significant resources and funds pedalling disinformation to green-wash and ethics-wash leather. These groups distract from and distort the reality of animal-derived leather as a major contributor to fashion’s climate, biodiversity, broader environmental and ethical crises. 

At the same time, the leather industry also actively lobbies against legislation and regulation that would minimise fashion’s environmental impacts. This report is designed to expose these disingenuous and dangerous efforts. 

We invite you to explore our findings and linked recommendations below, through our in-depth report.