Leather Also Has a Role to Play in the Fight Against Deforestation

The report positions leather as a circular byproduct of the beef and dairy industries, arguing that leather purchasers have a unique economic lever to incentivize deforestation-free production. It highlights the environmental risks of both cattle-driven deforestation and plastic-based leather alternatives, while noting that the leather industry currently lags in forest protection commitments. The text emphasizes the importance of full traceability to the farm level, the role of emerging EU and UK legislation, and the potential for industry collaboration through groups like the Leather Working Group to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and habitat loss.

• Leather is a byproduct of the beef and dairy industries and does not significantly drive cattle supply; a 1% increase in cattle price results in only a 0.1-0.2% increase in supply.
• The leather industry has significant untapped influence to drive sustainable practices because the additional income from hides strengthens the economic position of beef producers, providing leverage for purchasers to demand deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) production.
• Many leather alternatives marketed as 'vegan' are made from fossil-fuel-based plastics that do not biodegrade and contribute to microplastic pollution, whereas leather is durable and can be upcycled.
• Deforestation and habitat conversion significantly increase the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of leather; land use change (LUC) emissions can exceed 75% of a hide's total footprint in countries like Brazil and Indonesia.
• Legislative pressures are increasing in Europe and the UK, including a proposed EU law requiring full traceability to the farm and plantation level for commodities like beef and leather to ensure they are deforestation-free.
• The automotive industry is a major consumer of leather, with approximately 20% of leather absorbed by the sector, and is a critical point of influence for reducing habitat conversion in Brazil.

APA

Devine, K. (n.d.). Leather Also Has a Role to Play in the Fight Against Deforestation. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/504/3gs7vgqvmc_DCF_Leather_Business_Case_10_22_v4.pdf

Chicago

Devine, Katherine. Leather Also Has a Role to Play in the Fight Against Deforestation. WWF International, n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/504/3gs7vgqvmc_DCF_Leather_Business_Case_10_22_v4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Devine |first1=Katherine |title=Leather Also Has a Role to Play in the Fight Against Deforestation |publisher=WWF International |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/504/3gs7vgqvmc_DCF_Leather_Business_Case_10_22_v4.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{devinendleather, author = {Devine, Katherine}, title = {{Leather Also Has a Role to Play in the Fight Against Deforestation}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/504/3gs7vgqvmc_DCF_Leather_Business_Case_10_22_v4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }