Many, many, too many call for a fashion without crocodile, lizard or snakes. Because it’s unsustainable, they say. And sometimes, as it happened with the recent London Fashion Week ban, they receive from the system unexpected and undeserved assists. But the point is that many, even too many, have no idea of the exotic leather industry’s contribution to the planet and society. This was discussed on Feb. 26 at Lineapelle during the conference “The Sustainability of the Reptile Industry” (pictured). “In the 1970s, the Mississippi alligator was an endangered species”, stated Karl Flowers of consulting firm Autentichae. “It’s thanks to the synergy between farms, as they release some of the animals back into the wild when the eggs hatch, and conservation organizations, that today there are millions of alligators and the species is safe”.
Holistic view
Indeed, it’s within a holistic view that the sector’s contribution to the environment and society is best appreciated. ICFA is the International Crocodile Breeders Association: founded in 2016 with 12 members, it now has 42 members and has defined development goals, including sharing animal welfare standards, procedures and social governance. In 2023, the organization conducted an LCA (life cycle assestment) of the sector, starting with the Mississippi alligator and with the ambition to repeat with other species (such as Porosus and Nilensis). Interesting results emerged from the data analysis, claims Flowers. “For example, greater concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus are recognized in alligator repopulated soils”, he explains, “values that allow the growth of more lush vegetation in favor of soils that are more resilient in the face of seasonal cyclones”.
A world without the exotic skins industry?
“If there were no demand for hides”, is the logical premise of Cathelijne Klomp, secretary of IMARC, “there would also be no economic incentive for the conservation of reptile habitats and species. While it’s wrong to think that we are doing something sustainable by removing “exotic hides” from collections (and it’s alarming that “for reasons of political expediency even science-based institutions prefer to remain neutral), it’s true, however, that at all links of the chain commit to improved practices. This is why IMARC, a multistakeholder association for reptile conservation, first wants to extend its reach from Asia to Africa and South America. All the way to establishing certification based on the standards, which the association has already defined.
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