ISA TanTec vice-president voices vigorous opposition to deforestation
Vice-president for sustainable business development at footwear-facing leather manufacturer ISA TanTec, Keith Hill, has insisted that the global leather industry is “absolutely and vigorously opposed to deforestation”.
Speaking on an ISA TanTec podcast on the subject of the carbon footprint of leather, Mr Hill said work is taking place now “to advance the decoupling of deforestation from global leather value chains”.
Mr Hill argued that the usual drivers for forest land being taken for livestock are greed, corruption and profit from mining, timber or crops such as soya beans. He added that putting cattle on deforested land is often a tool to establish ownership of the site. He described using cattle in this way as the quickest way of laying down a claim to have the right to exploit a piece of land.
