Ban fur imports (the missing half of the law)
The fur farming industry in England is now illegal, thanks to work by Compassion in World Farming. Yet the crazy thing is that it’s still legal to import and sell. Some creatures are skinned alive, so why is the government allowing some designer boutiques (and Amazon and Harrods – which has a ‘dress code – okay to wear fur, not jeans?)
Also read on why to ban fur hats at Buckingham Palace.
Help to ban fur imports
Sign the petition at Fur Free Britain to ban the sale of fur, an industry where animals spend their lives in cramped cages, and causes wild-trapped animals to suffer in snares or steel-jaw traps.
Ruth Jones MP has recently tabled a motion to ban the sale and import of fur. She said another issue is that the conditions the animals are kept in, led many to spread the COVID-19 virus during the pandemic.
The EU has recently delayed the ban again to sell real fur. Email Olivér Várhelyi (Europe’s commissioner for animal welfare) to take action.
Sign up as a Fur Free Retailer
Shops can sign up to be a Fur Free Retailer, to receive a ‘fox logo’ to display in your window. Active in 24 countries, there are no fees, just confirm (in writing) your credentials.
Be careful in shops, as DNA tests have some ‘faux fur trim’ and novelty ornaments contain real fur.
What to do with old fur coats
If you used to wear fur (or you have an attic full of fur coats from a relative), what to do? It’s now thought not a good idea to cut them up and donate to animal shelters, as fur could rot and cause infection.
It’s also not good to give them to homeless people. Again they rot when wet, and are difficult to drag around. Far better to donate sleep pods.
Instead, just recycle them at textile banks. You can donate any old textiles even old undies) and they are shredded and made into things like insulation.
New biodegradable faux fur brands
Clean these at eco-friendly dry cleaners.
- Bio-fluff has received over $2 million in seed funding to help produce it for the mass market.
- EcoPel is a luxury faux fur made from recycled polyester. It’s identical in water run-off and quality. Gacha is a sustainable fur that is commercially compostable in 180 days (brands can take back end-of-life garments to industrially compost in proper facilities).
Faux fur saves wild cats in Africa
Panthera (a charity that removes big cats caught in snares) is helping to protect leopards from being killed in South Africa, for coats used in ceremonies). It has worked to replicate costumes with Heritage Furs, which the communities adore. And protects these beautiful spotted big cats.
