McCartney, which uses alternative leathers made from biobased materials like grape waste and mushrooms, said in a speech at the landmark meeting that her handbags face a 30% tariff in the United States—an expense that can be completely negated by using a tiny amount of animal leather in her designs.
She told CNN such a system rewards polluters. She also called for tariffs on unsustainable fashions to boost the use of lower-carbon fabrics and leather alternatives. “The responsibility is on fashion brands, in collaboration with private and public leaders, to increase the speed of decarbonization,” the company said in a blog post.