Shoe giants boycott Amazon leather
Cattle rearing is a major driver of deforestation
Sportswear giant Nike is among shoe firms which have announced new leather policies following a report from Greenpeace highlighting the impact cattle rearing is having on deforestation.
Since Greenpeace's report Slaughtering the Amazon was published, companies including Timberland, Adidas and Clarks have announced plans to boycott leather from cattle which was raised in the Amazon Biome.
The firms will now require suppliers to certify that their cattle were reared outside of this area.
Commenting on Nike's support, Greenpeace's forest campaigner Sarah Shoraka said: "Nike has recognised that trampling over the Amazon rainforest to produce leather for its trainers is an unacceptable way of doing business.
"[The company] has taken a bold step and now we need to see other companies follow their lead."
Speaking to the Guardian, Greenpeace's James Turner said that the campaign has made good progress in a short space of time and added that UK food companies now need to follow in the shoe firm's lead.
Greenpeace's report states that the cattle sector in the Brazilian Amazon is responsible for 14% of the world's annual deforestation, making it one of the largest drivers of the issue.
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
