Fur Industry, The Sustainability Strategy

Natural fur is a sustainable material that offers an alternative to fast fashion and other environmentally harmful practices and materials. The fur industry is a major global player, employing hundreds of thousands of people and generating an estimated $30 billion annually. Its extensive supply chain includes wild hunters in the Canadian tundra, auction houses in Copenhagen and Helsinki, factories in Italy and Greece for finishing and dyeing, skilled furriers in New York design studios, and boutiques and fashion houses in Paris and London. Transforming such a diverse and intricate industry is no easy task, but it is both necessary and expected.

After thorough discussions, it became clear that for the industry to move toward a more sustainable future, it was essential to gain a deep understanding of current practices and establish a framework with specific goals.

To this end, the global fur industry has implemented comprehensive programs and set a clear direction for the entire supply chain, aiming to ensure animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of the people and communities involved. These initiatives form the foundation of the industry’s initial sustainability strategy.

In February 2020, the International Fur Federation (IFF) introduced the "Natural Fur" strategy at London Fashion Week, during an event hosted at the Danish Embassy in London. This strategy is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and sets forth global initiatives, interventions, and targets aimed at enhancing sustainability in the industry.

The Natural Fur Strategy is structured around three key pillars and eight primary initiatives:

**WEALTH**
The fur industry’s current strategy focuses on strict controls, standards, and audits. One of its cornerstone initiatives is FURMARK, a global certification and traceability program for animal welfare, which includes breed-specific programs for both farm-raised and wild fur. This program offers consumers transparency and visibility into the industry. In addition to animal welfare standards, FURMARK tracks environmental metrics such as emissions, chemical usage, waste, and energy consumption.
By 2025, the fur industry plans to expand FURMARK to cover more fur-bearing species and national programs, using independently verified, science-based certification criteria.

**ENVIRONMENT**
The strategy also calls for independent, science-backed assessments of the carbon footprint for both farm-raised and wild fur, followed by the introduction of aggressive reduction targets over the next decade.
Additionally, the industry will adopt a comprehensive chemical standard for the dressing and dyeing process, supported by third-party audits and verification.
The strategy promotes the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of natural fur to further bolster environmental sustainability.

**PEOPLE**
The strategy requires businesses within the fur industry to adhere to globally recognized best practices, including anti-corruption policies.
It will also ensure the rights and roles of workers throughout the supply chain, commit to anti-slavery measures, and involve indigenous communities in fur production.
By 2025, the industry will implement social and environmental certifications throughout the FURMARK supply chain.

Fur Industry, The Sustainability Strategy