LVMH-owned leather-maker linked to deforestation pushes to weaken EU green law – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — An Italian leather-maker owned by French luxury giant LVMH has purchased animal skins from Paraguayan companies tied to deforested land, according to an NGO investigation, even as its CEO pushes for exemptions under EU anti-deforestation rules.

Backed by some European lawmakers and government officials, industry lobbyists have been trying to convince the European Commission that leather should not be covered by new rules restricting imports of products tied to deforestation.  

The sector claims it does not cause deforestation because leather is a meat-industry byproduct. Once animals are slaughtered, their skins would go to waste if they weren’t bought by tanneries to make products like bags, belts, and car seat covers, it argues.