**Target:** Todd Kahn, CEO of Coach, Inc.
**Goal:** End the sale of leather and adopt humane, sustainable alternatives.
A recent demonstration at Coach’s New York headquarters spotlighted the atrocities associated with the leather industry, calling attention to the company’s ongoing sales of cruel leather products. PETA supporters occupied the building’s lobby during Coach’s annual meeting, decrying the inhumane practices linked to leather production. Shocking claims about the treatment of animals used in leather production were made, detailing how cows are castrated, branded, and subjected to tail-docking without painkillers; alligators are killed with brutal methods; and ostriches are harmed during feather harvesting. These accounts illustrate a profound disregard for animal welfare and highlight the urgent need for corporate responsibility.
In addition to animal cruelty, the leather industry has severe environmental implications, contributing to climate change, deforestation, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. The demonstrators emphasized that Coach, in its pursuit of a “better-made future,” must align its practices with its professed values and cease its association with leather products that allegedly cause immense suffering. The marketing of leather scraps as “sustainable” does not address these fundamental ethical and ecological issues; rather, it obscures the reality of the exploitation involved in leather production.
The demand is clear: Coach should shift towards innovative and compassionate vegan alternatives that do not perpetuate the cycle of harm and environmental degradation.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Kahn,
The recent events surrounding the protest at Coach’s New York headquarters have brought significant attention to the troubling practices associated with the leather industry. Numerous reports suggest that the production of leather involves extreme suffering for animals, including severe procedures such as castration, branding, and tail-docking without anesthetics. Moreover, cruel methods employed in the killing and processing of alligators, snakes, and ostriches serve to amplify the urgent calls for change voiced by concerned activists and shareholders alike.
In addition to the ethical concerns, the leather industry has been linked to profound environmental crises, including deforestation, pollution, and biodiversity loss. As a company that strives to project a commitment to sustainability and ethical production, it is essential that Coach aligns its practices with these values by ceasing the sale of leather products. The current trend of marketing ground-up leather scraps as “sustainable” does not reflect the compassion that consumers across the globe are increasingly demanding.
We strongly urge you to take decisive action and implement a commitment to stop the sale of leather at Coach. Transitioning to innovative, cruelty-free materials would not only demonstrate true leadership in corporate responsibility but also align with the values of a growing segment of consumers who prioritize humane and sustainable choices. It is time for Coach to eliminate leather from its offerings and choose a more compassionate, responsible path forward.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
