The burning Amazon impacts on Brazilian hides exports

The initial information of the news agency Reuters, realized that important footwear and clothing brands such as TIMBERLAND, VANS, NAUTICA, NAPAPIJRI, THE NORTH FACE, REEF, KIPLING and others, belonging to VF Corporation of the United States, suspended Brazilian hides purchases for their products because of the environmental disaster caused by fires in the Amazon.
The holding company also said it would resume purchases when "we have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental damage in the country."
Although at first, the Brazilian Tanneries Industry Center -CICB- confirmed the action, in a subsequent statement clarified and retracted itself about this situation, underlining that purchases were not interrupted or restricted. According to the tanners' entity, "the importer explained that he will continue with the leather orders to Brazil, but requested additional clarifications on the origin and traceability of the products."
As expressed by the president of CICB, José Bello, “all Brazilian leathers go through a process of traceability and control, audited by an international organization. For this reason, we give guarantees to our buyers about the handling, management and sustainability of our leather”.
Both NASA reports and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute -IPAM- showed that the fires were caused by high deforestation in the region, which in the period August 2018 to July 2019 was 50% higher than in the same 2017-2018 period.