PETA India protests leather industry ahead of Halloween: Emphasizing vegan alternatives

Panaji: Ahead of Halloween, PETA India staged a protest at the Mandovi river promenade on Friday, where supporters dressed as grim reapers proclaimed, “Leather Is Dead.” They dragged leather goods by chains and wielded scythes to symbolise the end of leather production.
PETA India campaigns coordinator Utkarsh Garg criticised the leather industry, likening its practices to a horror movie and citing the inhumane treatment of animals. “PETA India is reminding everyone that leather is as dead as the animals it comes from and encouraging shoppers to opt for innovative vegan clothes and accessories,” he said.
The event shed light on the cruelty involved in leather production, including the suffering of animals and the environmental damage caused by tanneries. PETA promoted vegan alternatives, which are widely available and carry the PETA-approved vegan certification, helping consumers make ethical choices.
“The global PETA-approved vegan certification authenticates handbags, shoes, clothing, accessories, furniture, and home decor items made from vegan materials rather than animal-derived ones such as leather, silk, wool, fur, and feathers. Over 1000 companies worldwide are using the PETA-approved vegan logo to enable socially conscious consumers in India and elsewhere to identify vegan products at a glance while shopping,” they said.