
American Express joins other retailers including Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and UNIQLO in banning the use of exotic skins.
American Express has finally announced that it has removed crocodile skin items from its online Membership Rewards store.
The decision follows five years of campaigning by vegan charity PETA.
In fact, the company even received more 300,000 messages from PETA supporters urging it to stop supporting the exotic animal skin trade.
Exposé of the exotic-skins industry
PETA has conducted a string of investigations to expose cruelty to animals in the exotic-skins trade around the world.
In one video exposé, PETA showed how tens of thousands of crocodiles in Vietnam were horrifically raised and violently killed to make “luxury” leather bags for top brands.
Captured footage revealed crocodiles confined to small concrete pits before workers electrocuted them, slit their necks and rammed metal rods down their spines. Many were skinned while they’re still moving and bleeding.
‘Tide is turning against exotic skins’
Post the investigations, many high-profile designers and fashion houses including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and UNIQLO have banned exotic skins from their designs.
Burberry joined the list in May after confirming the move in its fiscal year 2022 earnings’ call.
“And as a modern luxury brand, I am pleased to confirm today that we have banned the use of exotics in future collections, building on the commitments we made a number of years ago to go fur-free,” chief operating and financial officer Julie Brown said at the time.
Acknowledging the growing trend towards humane fashion, PETA said: “The tide is turning against exotic skins, and it’s clear that people—especially young consumers—don’t want to support industries that abuse animals.”
The charity added that a recent survey by Glamour magazine found that approximately 73% of Generation Z members identified as animal rights activists.
‘Compassionate move’
Reacting to news of American Express removing crocodile skin items, Tracy Reiman, PETA’s executive vice president, Tracy Reiman, said: “American Express is collecting major points for ditching an industry that hacks apart and skins crocodiles alive, as our investigations have shown.
“PETA US is celebrating this compassionate move and reminding everyone that for every bag, belt, or pair of boots made out of the skin of a crocodile, an intelligent and sensitive animal endured a horrific death.”
Share this story: American Express removes crocodile skin items from online reward store.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Puma ditches kangaroo leather for ‘better’ vegan fabric
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 3rd March 2023
Puma’s King soccer boots are made with vegan K-Better, a new animal-free upper material. Puma SE is officially phasing kangaroo leather out of its soccer boots this year. Instead, it will begin using a vegan fabric following rising consumer opposition to animal-made products. The German sporting goods company has redesigned its legendary KING football boot …
Continue reading “Puma ditches kangaroo leather for ‘better’ vegan fabric”
More than a third of Brits intend to reduce animal products this new year
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 10th February 2023
Research from The Vegan Society showed that an increasing number of people are looking to reduce their consumption of meat and dairy for environmental reasons. More than one-third of Britons plan to cut back on their consumption of meat and dairy in 2023, according to a survey by the Vegan Society. The world’s oldest vegan …
Continue reading “More than a third of Brits intend to reduce animal products this new year”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …