The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has introduced the Deforestation-Free Leather Fund, aiming to enhance the sustainability of leather supply chains by improving traceability and promoting responsible sourcing practices.
The move comes as leather producers, including those that supply the auto upholstery industry, face increased scrutiny over links to deforestation and poor traceability practices.
The fund will initially focus on Brazil, where cattle ranching has led to significant deforestation in the Amazon. Since leather is a byproduct of the beef industry, the two are tightly connected. Without proper oversight, leather can come from farms that clear forests illegally or unsustainably.
Through the program, WWF seeks to implement traceability systems, invest in farm-level improvements, and assist farmers in formalizing operations to ensure deforestation- and conversion-free leather sourcing. After Brazil, the program will expand to other beef-producing countries in South America.
Fernando Bellese, WWF’s Senior Director for Beef and Leather Supply Chains, emphasized the shared responsibility of industries utilizing leather to support sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.
“While leather is a byproduct of the beef and dairy industries, it still carries responsibility for embedded impacts and emissions in the supply chain,” Bellese said in a statement. “Companies that use leather, including those in the fashion, automotive, and furniture industries, have unique leverage within the supply chain to encourage and support more sustainable practices by influencing beef and tannery operations.”
Tapestry, Inc., the parent company of brands like Coach and Kate Spade, is among the first to commit financially to the fund, building upon its previous $3 million grant to WWF aimed at enhancing leather traceability in Brazil.
The fund aspires to tag and trace one million cattle within three years and rehabilitate 45,000 hectares of degraded land, contributing to more sustainable leather production practices.
WWF is calling on brands, retailers, leather processors, and manufacturers to contribute to the $10 million fund, with contributions scaled based on company size and operations.
This initiative aligns with broader industry efforts, such as the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather, which encourages companies to commit to deforestation-free leather sourcing by 2030.
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