Shoe brand Timberland yesterday announced a new policy to ensure that the leather used in its footwear no longer contributes to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

Raising Timberland to the status of industry leader in environmentally and socially responsible leather procurement from Brazil, the manufacturers agreement with activist group Greenpeace took place just days after a similar policy was introduced by fellow trainers specialist Nike.

Lindsey Allen, a forest campaigner with Greenpeace, said that the firm has taken an important step by committing to avoid leather from cattle raised in newly deforested areas.

“Timberland has raised the bar for environmentally and socially responsible leather sourcing policies in the Amazon,” she said.

Both companies initiated the new plans following a Greenpeace report entitled Slaughtering the Amazon, which investigated the journey of cattle products such as leather all the way back to the supply chains of top trainers brands.

Greenpeace also praised the leadership of Nike last week, saying its commitment to transparency from their suppliers was significant in helping to change the industry from the inside out.

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