The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has introduced an initiative called the Deforestation Free Leather Fund to encourage sustainability in the leather supply chain. This new fund allows companies to financially support projects that enhance traceability and eco-friendly sourcing in leather production.
With over 25 years of experience in promoting sustainable supply chains, WWF aims to use this fund to drive investments that reduce deforestation linked to leather production. The fund will primarily focus on high-risk regions like Brazil, where cattle ranching has been a major cause of deforestation.
However, there are plans to expand its impact to other South American beef-producing countries in the future.
“Companies in fashion, automotive, and furniture industries have a unique opportunity to drive more sustainable practices by leveraging their influence within the supply chain, from beef ranchers to tanneries.”
Fernando Bellese, Senior Director for Leather Supply Chains at WWF
WWF is calling on brands, retailers, leather manufacturers, and processors to contribute to the fund. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of deforestation-free sourcing and send a strong market signal to beef producers and leather manufacturers.
By supporting sustainable leather production, companies can play a crucial role in reducing the industry’s environmental impact.
Global fashion company Tapestry, Inc., the parent company of Coach and Kate Spade, has already pledged support for the initiative. This commitment follows their 2022 investment of USD 3 million toward WWF’s efforts to improve traceability in the Brazilian leather industry.
“Our investment in this fund strengthens our commitment to long-term sustainable solutions in leather manufacturing, and we encourage other companies to join us in these efforts.”
Logan Duran, Vice President of ESG and Sustainability at Tapestry
The Deforestation Free Leather Fund will finance projects aimed at:
- Improving traceability
Developing systems that guarantee end-to-end tracking in the cattle supply chain. - Farm-level investments
Supporting farmers in adopting deforestation-free sourcing practices. - Farm regularization efforts
Helping farmers rehabilitate degraded land and formalize their operations for long-term sustainability.
The fund aims to ear-tag 1 million cattle within its first three years and restore 45,000 hectares (111,200 acres) of degraded land. WWF’s goal is to raise USD 10 million in corporate contributions to fund the first phase, with donation requests based on company size and hides processed.
