What is the environmental impact of leather?

Aerial photo of small cattle ranch showing deforestation

Issue: Fall 2024

Durable, versatile, and long-lasting, leather can be found everywhere from furniture retailers to fashion runways. And while many consumers avoid the textile, citing concerns about its environmental toll and animal welfare, demand for leather products persists. Now, many brands and companies—with help from WWF—have begun to rethink their supply chains.

Overhead photo of small ranch cut in shape of hide

Leather is a byproduct of the cattle industry, a major culprit of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Cattle ranching is responsible for 80_% of deforestation in the Amazon and contributes to significant biodiversity loss, increased fire risk, and soil erosion.

ABOUT 20_%of leather is bought by the auto industry to produce vehicle seats and interiors, which represents the world’s largest use of Brazilian leather.

DEFORESTATION DRIVER

In Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay—some of the world’s top beef-producing countries—millions of acres are converted each year for cattle ranching.

SUSTAINABLE SUBSTITUTES?

Many synthetic or vegan “leathers” are made of fossil fuel-derived plastics that don’t biodegrade. They also generally don’t last as long as animal leather and have less reuse and recycling potential.

PER-SUEDE-ING POLICIES

Leather supply chains are long and often opaque, making it hard to identify the raw material’s origin. By ensuring hides aren’t sourced from cattle reared on deforested land, promoting better ranching methods, and improving traceability, brands and companies that purchase leather can help drive more sustainable production while protecting at-risk ecosystems.

HIDDEN COST

When demand for hides doesn’t keep pace with demand for beef, many unused hides go to waste. Typically, they’re burned or sent to landfills, where they emit greenhouse gases. In 2019, up to 5.5 million hides were wasted in the US alone, or around 17%, according to the Leather and Hide Council of America. That’s enough leather to make
110 MILLION FOOTBALLS

football = 1 MILLION

FOR THE FORESTS

WWF, with the Textile Exchange and Leather Working Group, coleads the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather, a cross-sector initiative that calls on brands and retailers to commit to sourcing their leather from deforestation-free supply chains by 2030 or earlier.

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About: World Wildlife magazine provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the connections between animals, people and our planet. Published quarterly by WWF, the magazine helps make you a part of our efforts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the natural world.

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