H&M takes steps towards responsible leather
All our leather products should be produced in a socially and environmentally sustainable way, and with consideration to animal welfare.
In a recent report, PETA raises important issues about leather. We agree with PETA that there are several challenges within the leather industry, which is why we are engaged in a global initiative run by Textile Exchange to develop joint solutions and a global standard and certification for responsible leather including both animal welfare, social and environmental aspects. As the leather we use originates from the meat industry, collaborations within and across industry boarders, as well as other brands and NGOs, are important.
We are also actively looking for new, innovative non-animal deriving materials that can replace leather, such as bio-based materials. We already use five times as much synthetic leather (PU) as real leather, but we don’t consider PU as a good sustainable long-term solution. Instead we support innovative alternatives such as the mushroom leather or grape leather as well as lab-grown leather. Today, these alternatives are at an early stage of development but our long-term ambition is to replace all leather with non-animal deriving materials. Today, less than 1 percent of our total range is made of leather.
Since 2014, the suppliers we work with don’t source hides from the company mentioned by PETA.
Find more information about the Textile Exchange initiative on responsible leather.