Fur Is Still Not Green

Most of us who are opposed to fur production have nothing financial to gain from wanting animals stuck on fur farms or trapped in the wild to be free. On the other hand, the fur industry’s entire intention is to make money and keep up the demand for their product. This is crucial to remember when the viewpoints on this issue are considered balanced, equal and opposing. Treehugger reported on the industry’s greenwashing a few days ago, and the comments section was swarmed by vocal individuals for and against fur. But not unlike the models who were revealed to have been hired by the fur industry to act like pro-fur protesters in Amsterdam a few weeks ago, we mustn’t always trust those commentators who so fervently defend profits and “personal choice” over legitimate concerns about ecology and cruelty.

The fur organizations that represent farmers and trappers put a dollar sign on the head of each of the 75 million individual animals that are killed every year, for a product that is ultimately unnecessary and inherently cruel. To top it off, marketing organizations like The Fur Council of Canada who launched the deceptive “Fur is Green” website“,  make silly claims of sustainability and “eco” friendliness that have been proven false by much research.

Fur is Green? More like ‘Fur Is GREED’. This campaign is so ridiculous that the fur industry may as well claim that their end-product is ‘not tested on animals‘. Remember, these fur organizations are marking millions, and stand to lose millions. This is their one and only purpose, and they will do anything and everything to maintain those profits, including feigning concern for the environment, animals, and indigenous cultures.

Considering the fact that fur farms and fur production requires more fossil fuels to operate than would go into a faux, the bath of toxic chemicals (formaldehyde, chromium, naphthalene, aluminum, ammonia, chlorine, chlorobenzene, copper, ethylene glycol, lead, methanol, naphthalene, sulfuric acid, toluene) used to preserve the flesh of animals whose pelts become out-dated status symbols, the need to refrigerate coats during warm seasons, and considering the unavoidable and accidental killing and maiming of endangered and threatened species, fur is not green within the context of our current culture.