VF Corp., the parent of The North Face, Timberland, Vans and Kipling, will no longer buy Brazilian leather as continuing forest fires ravage the Amazon rainforest.
“VF Corporation and our brands have decided to no longer directly source leather and hides from Brazil for our international businesses until we have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental harm in the country,” the company said in a statement released to media outlets.
VF Corp added, “As a result of this detailed diligence, we are no longer able to satisfactorily assure ourselves that our de minimis volume of leather purchased from Brazilian suppliers upholds this commitment.
“Therefore, VF Corporation and our brands have decided to no longer directly source leather and hides from Brazil for our international businesses until we have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental harm in the country.”
The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company’s other brands include Dickies, Smartwool and Jansport.
The boycott was first reported by Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo last Wednesday.
