This leather and footwear manufacturing area has been hit hard by floods
According to Xinhua News Agency, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's important leather and footwear manufacturing region, has recently experienced heavy rains, triggering severe floods and landslides and other natural disasters.
The state has been hit by its worst natural disaster to date since April 29, with floods and landslides caused by heavy rains that have killed at least 100 people, injured 372 and left 130 missing, according to a May 8 release from the local civil protection department. More than 160,000 people were homeless and more than 66,000 were placed in shelters in 417 of the state's 497 cities.
Gov. Eduardo Wright said the death toll was likely to continue to rise, calling it "the worst disaster in state history."
It is reported that the state's economy is relatively poor, with agriculture as the mainstay of the economy. However, the floods have inundated tens of thousands of acres of farmland, drowned many livestock, and had a major impact on the local fishing industry, affecting agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery. According to market research data, only 20% of rural households have purchased agricultural insurance. As a result, the affected farmers suffered heavy economic losses, and the floods have dealt a major blow to the Brazilian economy as a whole.
Leather remains the material of choice for luxury car manufacturers
Recently, Tom Hogarth, deputy editor-in-chief of ILM, visited Bentley Motors in Crewe, England, to understand the company's position and its customers' stance on the selection of automotive leather upholstery.
Tom spoke to Marc Stang, Bentley's technical expert for leather and colour development, who made Bentley's position clear: "Our customers still prefer leather upholstery, and I don't think that's going to change in the market environment in the future. For me, leather and luxury are inextricably linked. ”
Denmark will ban the use of PFAS before the EU
Denmark recently announced that it will ban the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in clothing, footwear and water repellent before the EU ban is implemented.
Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden submitted a proposal to ban PFAS to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in 2023.
Denmark recently announced that it will implement a ban on PFAS on July 1, 2025, before the EU ban is introduced, with a one-year transition period that will take effect from July 1, 2026.
However, the scope of the ban does not include professional wear and safety clothing, as these products lack PFAS-free alternatives.
Danish Environment Minister Magnus Hojnik said: "We must be the first to limit PFAS at the source. A nationwide ban on the import and sale of clothing, footwear and water repellents containing PFAS is an important step in limiting their emissions, which will have a real impact on the environment in Denmark. In addition, we are sending a strong signal to the rest of the world that we must phase out these substances as much as possible. ”