By Margarita S, PETA UK, January 8, 2020
In honour of the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday on January 9, PETA sent her a bag from the French eco-friendly fashion brand Ashoka Paris, one of the winners of the PETA Fashion Awards 2019 for its planet-friendly bags and accessories.
This gift follows the launch of the Earthshot Prize, an initiative by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to encourage the development of solutions to the climate crisis – an urgent problem to which the leather industry significantly contributes.
PETA hopes this gift will encourage the Duchess to make conscious, animal-friendly choices for her wardrobe and inspire her many admirers to do the same.
The bag is made from "apple leather" – an eco-friendly and 100% vegan material derived from apple peels. This innovative material, created by recycling food waste, has a much lower environmental impact than animal leather.
The leather industry fuels the climate crisis
As the Australian bush burns, many people blame climate change for exacerbating wildfires. But what fuels the climate crisis? According to the United Nations, animal agriculture is responsible for a greater proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined.
The leather industry has a devastating impact on Earth. This ranges from carbon emissions produced by raising cows, sheep, or other animals, to toxic tanneries that pollute waterways and expose workers to excessive amounts of chemicals, including arsenic.
Studies show that leather is the most polluting material in the fashion industry.
Cows deserve better
Cows raised for their skin undergo castration, branding, dehorning, and tail docking before being skinned and dismembered, sometimes while still conscious.
Footage from Brazilian ranches provides a glimpse into the terror and pain inflicted on cows killed for their skin and flesh:
Want to fight the climate crisis and help cows? Choose vegan fashion!
Vegan accessories made from materials like apple leather are good for the planet and animals. Never buy, wear, or use items made with animal leather.
Please also urge the British Fashion Council, organiser of London Fashion Week, to introduce a ban on leather and fur at all its events: https://secure.peta.org.uk/page/30061/action/1