Puma and PETA: Exploring leather's sustainable fashion role
In the first episode of the video series #KnowYourStuff, sustainable fashion Activist Aishwarya Sharma moderated a discussion featuring Veronique Rochet, senior director of sustainability at Puma, and Frank Schmidt from PETA Deutschland. The trio delved into the pros and cons of leather and explored common vegan alternatives, including plant-based and plastic options.
Frank Schmidt listed ethical and environmental concerns surrounding leather production, repeating the tired myth that a billion animals, including cows and sheep, are killed annually for their skins.
He also tried to argue that the environmental impact of leather was nearly six times greater than that of synthetic alternatives, advocating for a shift towards vegan materials as a more sustainable choice, once again conflating animal agriculture and leather’s impact.
In response, Miss Rochet provided insights into the practical realities of leather sourcing. She explained that leather was primarily a byproduct of the beef industry, meaning that as long as beef consumption remained high, hides would continue to be available. However, she pointed out that nearly 45% of these hides currently end up in landfills, representing a significant waste of resources.
The conversation also touched on the challenges of finding scalable, sustainable alternatives to leather. The Puma director raised concerns about existing alternatives, many of which are plastic-based. She questioned their environmental impact as they derive from crude oil extraction.
Puma’s commitment to animal welfare and environmental responsibility was also touched on. Miss Rochet said that nearly all the leather sourced by the company came from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries, and she emphasised the company’s commitment to sourcing only deforestation-free leather by 2030 and its participation in programmes aimed at improving farming practices to enhance animal welfare and minimise deforestation.
