If a tree falls in an ancient forest, does it end up in your closet?

India based Environmental Activist Ripudaman Bevli is joined by Nicole Rycroft, Founder and Executive Director at Canopy Planet. An organisation working with companies like PUMA and their supply chains to protect our ancient forests and ecosystems from the impacts of industries such as fashion.

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PUMA has ten target areas, each with a set of goals, that we are striving to reach by 2025. This episode focuses on the target area of Biodiversity. Many species, including plants, animals, bacteria and fungi are being threatened with extinction due to human activities such as deforestation, putting the earth’s magnificent biodiversity at risk.

What it actually means: The Fashion Industries supply chains are directly linked to activities that threaten our biodiversity, such as deforestation. To mitigate the risk of biodiversity loss, we address environmental pollution risk through our targets and suppliers’ programmes.

You’ll find more information on PUMA’s Biodiversity & Forest Protection Policy as a PDF here – https://cdn.about.puma.com/-/media/files/pdf/sustainability/codes-and-handbooks/forest_biodiversity-policy_260321.pdf?rev=c7c72d80f88147c3bbea608249bb0f30

Goal 1: Support setting up a biodiversity SBT

SBT stands for Science Based Target, which provides a clearly-defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2022, we changed our SBT to align with our 1.5 degree scenario. See more about this target in the Climate Action episode – “Can radical collaboration solve fashion’s renewable energy problem?” show notes.

Goal 2: Procure 100% cotton, leather, and viscose from certified sources

Both cotton farming and cattle ranching require extensive land use and have been cited to reduce biodiversity, 99.8% of cotton used in PUMA products are BCI (better cotton initiative) or recycled cotton. 100% of the leather used in our footwear is sourced from Leather Working Group medal-rated tanneries. We have committed to sourcing 100% of our viscose from suppliers committed to reducing the risk of sourcing from ancient and endangered forests

.Goal 3: Zero use of exotic skins or hides

We don’t use skins or hides that have come from exotic animals like snakes to make any of our products. PUMA has committed to phasing out K-Leather (hide from kangaroos) in 2023.

PUMA publishes all of its progress, challenges and setbacks in its Sustainability Report. You can find the 2022 report online now by going to about.puma.com