COTANCE warns of deceptive online leather ‘bargains’
COTANCE, the representative body of the leather industry in the European Union has highlighted the recent experience of its member organisation in Germany, VDL, in testing the authenticity of a so-called leather jacket sold online.
Researchers at VDL found an offer online for leather jackets at less than €70. The same website also offered leather handbags and shoes at low prices.
After clicking through, the VDL team was offered a product described as a medium-length, hooded, fashion autumn leather jacket. It had been on sale at €140, but was now available at €70. After placing an order, the team was given a delivery time of 15-20 days.
After seven weeks, a package arrived from China with the declared customs value of the contents given as $17, which is below the threshold for customs controls. Inside was a jacket with the label describing it as 100% PVC. It looked cheap and completely different from the product presented on the e-commerce site.
Not only was the jacket completely different from the product promised, tests showed that it contained a high concentration of Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, also known as DEHP, a plasticiser banned from general use under EU law , as well as carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other substances that, on disposal, can harm the environment.
Reacting to VDL’s experience, COTANCE said there must be greater transparency and stronger rules governing the description of leather products. “We are committed to increasing consumer awareness of high-quality genuine leather,” the Brussels-based organisation said. “For the real thing, there are simply no serious offers below a certain price level.”
