Korea consumer agency flags "synthetic leather" greenwashing
South Korea’s Consumer Agency has identified 53 instances of unfair advertising in which synthetic products were labelled as "eco-leather" or "nature-friendly" without evidence of environmental benefits.
The investigation, covering six major domestic online markets in November 2025, found misleading claims across clothing, bags, and furniture. The findings have been reported in local media.
The majority of infractions (36 cases, 67.9%) appeared in product names, followed by advertising content and product information. The 53 cases involved 27 companies, many targeting vegan consumers by highlighting that no animals were used in production. The agency noted that "synthetic leather", being petroleum-based, produces harmful substances such as dimethylformamide and has limited durability and biodegradability, meaning it cannot be considered inherently eco-friendly.
By category, clothing was most frequently implicated (14 cases), followed by bags (9) and furniture (5). All unfair advertising has since been removed or corrected, with the agency advising consumers to critically assess environmental claims on synthetic "leather" products.
