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Animal rights: real fur, fake fur or second-hand - what's okay?

26.9.2024

Translation: machine translated

"If you wear fur, you wear death", "Animal suffering is unacceptable", "Better naked than in fur" - slogans and campaigns like these have long made it clear that animal fur means animal suffering. But what about faux fur and second-hand clothing? What should we look out for?

"Oh, how fluffy," I thought when I bought winter shoes with faux fur around the ankles four years ago. Since then, I've received a few disparaging looks. And I've also been asked: "But it's not real?"

No, of course not. Of course I'm aware that fur production is associated with animal suffering. That's why I chose faux fur. But suddenly my paranoia kicked in: had I possibly been misled when I bought it? Is faux fur really a smart alternative? Caroline Mulle, legal researcher at the Foundation for Animals in the Law, gave me the answer.

Caroline Mulle, is there any fur you can wear with a clear conscience?

The short answer is: no.

Why not?

Fur production is still associated with massive suffering for animals. As a rule, they are brutally caught or kept in cramped cages. It is not uncommon for them to be skinned alive.

What about products that are labelled as "ethical", "sustainable" or "wild-caught"
? The corresponding labels were created by the fur industry and are merely used for image cultivation. The reality is that animals also suffer massively for such fur products. The fact that there have been no fur farms in Switzerland for 40 years - i.e. since the first Animal Welfare Act came into force - shows that profitable fur production in compliance with our animal welfare standards is simply not possible.

Which import countries are particularly controversial?

More than half of the furs imported into Switzerland are produced in Asia. Predominantly from China, which does not even have minimum animal welfare standards. However, the conditions in European fur farms must also be labelled as clearly cruel according to Swiss animal welfare legislation. Furthermore, practices prohibited in Switzerland are also used in North America: Coyotes, foxes and bobcats in particular are caught with trapping irons, snares and snap traps. This often means fighting for survival for hours or even days.

What is the situation with fox fur from Swiss hunts?

Some people say that the fur from a shot fox can also be utilised. Or hunting is necessary to regulate the population and maintain the natural balance.

That's not true?

No. It has been scientifically proven that hunting has little influence on the size of the population. First and foremost, the food supply and the conditions for rearing young animals are decisive.

Would it be an alternative to use fur from sick animals or from animals whose meat is further processed?

This also only seems ethically justifiable at first glance. A common misconception, for example, is that rabbit fur is a by-product of the meat industry and not reprehensible. However, the fluffy Rex rabbits in particular are bred and killed without exception for their fur and live in poor conditions. Exploitation is perpetuated when you wear this fur. And you can also harm yourself.

In what way?

Laboratory tests have shown that fur products from all price categories contain harmful chemical residues. These can be carcinogenic, hormone-altering or allergenic.

How often is real fur still found in clothes shops?

Fortunately, much less frequently than a few years ago. Many department stores and luxury brands have banned fur products from their range.

But it hasn't disappeared completely?

Unfortunately not. It can still be found on products with small fur details, such as hoods or collars on winter jackets. However, cruel fur products are sold much more frequently via second-hand channels. In 2023, Zurich Animal Protection inspected twelve second-hand shops and three second-hand shops in and around Zurich. In 14 of these 15 shops, a total of 197 second-hand items were discovered that were either made entirely of real fur or contained individual pieces of it.

Fur that has already been worn is not automatically ethical.
Source: Shutterstock/vitec

Why is buying second-hand fur not okay? One could argue that no new animal suffering is caused.

When fur is worn, it is not visible whether it is second-hand or new fur. This is why second-hand purchases also contribute to a large extent to the normalisation of fur. When people see fur being worn - whether new or second-hand - the impression is created that fur is acceptable. This keeps real fur socially acceptable and also keeps the cruel fur industry alive.

What should you look out for when buying clothes?

To be able to recognise real fur in the shop, you should look for the legally required labelling, i.e. a label on the product. Unfortunately, you can't rely on this in second-hand shops. It is therefore best to avoid fur products altogether. Regardless of whether they are new, second-hand or artificially produced. Because, as I said, even fake fur that looks real can maintain demand and thus create new animal suffering.

Real fur

What do you think of fur clothing?

I find all fur clothing ethically unacceptable.
37%
I don't think much of real fur. Faux fur and second-hand clothes are okay.
38%
Wearing fur is okay.
14%
I have no opinion on this.
11%

The competition has ended.

13 people like this article

Darina Schweizer

Senior Editor

Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.ch

I love anything with four legs or roots - especially my shelter cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. My favourite things to do are stalking around with police dogs and cat coiffeurs on reportages or letting sensitive stories flourish in garden brockis and Japanese gardens.

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