A German court has ruled that companies can no longer call synthetic materials “leather” if they don’t contain any actual leather.

The case was filed by the German Leather Industry Association (VDL) against Mina Merchandising GmbH, a company owned by well-known TV personality Martin Rütter. The company had been selling plastic-based dog collars labeled as “apple leather.”

The Higher Regional Court of Cologne overturned an earlier decision and said that using the term “leather” for plastic or fruit-based products is misleading and illegal.

“This is more than just a win for the leather industry, it’s a win for consumers and truth in marketing. We are not against innovation, but we are against misleading labels that confuse buyers and devalue traditional, natural materials.”

Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano,
Secretary General, COTANCE

The court made it clear that the word “leather” can only be used when the product is made completely or partly from animal hide.

The earlier court had dismissed the case in 2024, saying the blue color of the dog collar would be enough for consumers to know it wasn’t real leather. But the higher court disagreed, saying the term “leather” cannot be used just because a word like “apple” is added in front of it.

“We are not opposed to new materials but we do not want these materials to be referred to as leather in order to mislead consumers”

Andreas Meyer, Managing Director, VDL

This decision is seen as a major move to stop greenwashing. It sends a message that companies cannot use eco-sounding names like “vegan leather,” “cactus leather,” or “apple leather” if there is no actual leather in the product.

The ruling is also being welcomed across Europe. Industry leaders say it will help protect the reputation of genuine leather and ensure honest labeling in the market.

Source – COTANCE

Check out the court ruling here