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Popular car manufacturers BMW and Jaguar Land Rover have come under scrutiny after their leather interiors’ were linked to ‘illegal deforestation’, according to a report by Earthlight.
The companies were allegedly involved in the destruction of a protected tract of South American forest ‘inhabited by one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes’ where cattle ranches have been built.
Earthsight says it discovered slaughterhouses buying cattle from ranches in Paraguay and traced the supply chain onward to some of Europe’s largest tanneries in Italy.
‘Scandal’
“During undercover visits, the Paraguayan tanneries concerned bragged of supplying a number of famous cars, including BMW models and the Range Rover Evoque,” the report states.
“… Several other auto giants [who] source leather from the Italian tanneries were linked to the scandal.”
‘Human rights abuse’
In an online statement, Director of Earthsight Sam Lawson said: “No car owner is going to feel comfortable in their plush leather seat knowing that the last forest refuge of an uncontacted tribe was illegally cleared to make it.
“This simply should not be allowed to happen. And this is far from an isolated case. Europe is awash with the products of deforestation and human rights abuses. Corporations have utterly failed to do the right thing. It is high time governments made them”
You can read the full report here
Plant Based News has contacted BMW and Jaguar Land Rover for comment
