Sustainability
Biodegradability
Fur is a renewable resource, it regenerates naturally!
It may seem strange to talk about a resource in this context, but the reproductive capacity of fur-bearing animals is very high and every year we end up with a surplus for each species, exceeding nature’s carrying capacity.
As it is known all materials that have a 100% animal origin can play a key role in our near future and this is exactly why I would like to focus on a document made public by International Fur Federation through an analysis carried out by OWS Brussels laboratory in 2018. This document describes how the biodegradability of real fur is much faster and greener than an ”eco fur” or similar products such as the coupling of animal fibers and plastic, whose definition ”eco” can no longer be used from 2020.
The test shows how once abandoned in a common landfill, a fiber mainly made of plastic degrades much more slowly than a natural fiber such as fur.
In particular, the environmental conditions of a common landfill were used for the test, as both materials do not have a specific destination for recycling. The ISO 15985 test consists of comparing cellulose in an anaerobic digestion test with a high solids content.
After 15 days the biodegradation of cellulose was found to be 84.1%.
The final biodegradation (after 30 days) was 85.7% ± 2.0%, meaning that all requirements for a valid test were met.
In comparison, the biodegradation of “FAKE FUR” NEVER started! At the end of the test it was measured in the rate of 0.1%.
The slightly positive result is considered as a natural variation in the biogas production of the inoculum. This means that the ”fake” fur is not biodegradable under mesophilic, high-solids anaerobic conditions.
Biodegradability
Fur is a renewable resource, it regenerates naturally!
It may seem strange to talk about a resource in this context, but the reproductive capacity of fur-bearing animals is very high and every year we end up with a surplus for each species, exceeding nature’s carrying capacity.
As it is known all materials that have a 100% animal origin can play a key role in our near future and this is exactly why I would like to focus on a document made public by International Fur Federation through an analysis carried out by OWS Brussels laboratory in 2018. This document describes how the biodegradability of real fur is much faster and greener than an ”eco fur” or similar products such as the coupling of animal fibers and plastic, whose definition ”eco” can no longer be used from 2020.
The test shows how once abandoned in a common landfill, a fiber mainly made of plastic degrades much more slowly than a natural fiber such as fur.
In particular, the environmental conditions of a common landfill were used for the test, as both materials do not have a specific destination for recycling. The ISO 15985 test consists of comparing cellulose in an anaerobic digestion test with a high solids content.
After 15 days the biodegradation of cellulose was found to be 84.1%.
The final biodegradation (after 30 days) was 85.7% ± 2.0%, meaning that all requirements for a valid test were met.
In comparison, the biodegradation of “FAKE FUR” NEVER started! At the end of the test it was measured in the rate of 0.1%.
The slightly positive result is considered as a natural variation in the biogas production of the inoculum. This means that the ”fake” fur is not biodegradable under mesophilic, high-solids anaerobic conditions.
Controlled provenance
Fur skins can be distinguished in farmed and wild skins, which come from Europe and North America respectively, and are therefore subject to different management and rules.
The first type is managed entirely by the European auction Saga Furs, which controls, regulates, assimilates and sells the raw skins. The Saga Furs system emphasizes the importance of control over the farms which, by adhering to the Saga Furs program, are kept under strict control on the most delicate aspects such as animal welfare, but above all make the skins traceable from birth to sale. The control system and the various rules are based on standards defined by the breeders, the Council of European Reccomendation on Fur farming and Sagafurs; the breeders are given the qualification and authorization to be suppliers of Saga Furs, without which they cannot sell their products.
In short we can define the traceability system of Saga Furs in a few crucial and fundamental points:
1 – animal health and welfare;
2 – conditions, constant analysis and modification, if necessary, of the various life cycles of the farm animal;
3 – hygienic situation of the farms;
4 – health of farmed animals kept under control by experienced veterinarians who follow the protocols established in the Finnish Animal Welfar Act.
5 – environmental management ⊕;
6 – nutrition management ⊕;
7- staff preparation ⊕.
Following these basic rules in constant development through FIFUR (Finnish Fur Breaders Association) Saga Furs and WelFur, the certifications are verified by third parties such as, for Finland, Finland Luova Ltd, which actually verifies in the breeding the established rules, while, as regards the hides coming from areas outside Finland, the certifications are verified by DVN GL taking as basis the rules established by Saga Furs and WelFur and confirmed by Baltic Control®.
As already explained, the Saga Fur certificate includes the protocol drawn up by WelFur, a scientific research study reported in various documents on animal welfare in which many universities have participated. ⊕.
The second type, wild, is managed in part by the FHA North Bay auction, and in part directly by one of our managers. The supply of skins and skins follows the felling plans established and regulated by law by the Canadian state, which guarantees the integrity of the territory and, what is of great importance, constantly gives the Natives and inhabitants of remote areas the possibility to have a livelihood from the sale of these skins and skins since before 1600, when the historical Hudson Bay Company was founded, a commercial enterprise that managed sales to European countries.
In addition to being a tradition of excellence, the wildlife trade is a modern example of the application of the principles of conservation and sustainable development; years of history have brought this type of hunting to a very high level of respect for the environment, with the use of Cruelty Free traps tested and approved (AIHTS agreements 1997), with a situation updated annually on the animal species at risk described in the site species-registry. canada.ca (subsection Sara) and a constant physical control by the forestry authority on both the documents used for the movement of hides between regions and in the tanneries.
Leaving aside as well known their basic characteristics, the beaver is an animal that if not controlled may have the potential to compromise the water system of some areas. The reference article from the site ilpost.it of 2016 (read), reports a problem related to the abandonment of some specimens in a vast territory and rich in trees; since the beaver has the peculiarity of building dams in waterways as a consequence quite serious was the unlimited multiplication of the number of specimens worsening from year to year the situation of the ecosystem.
The ecosystem of that area, as specified in the article, does not have a balance of the various animal species and the only way to limit the problem has been the felling.
Controlled provenance
Fur skins can be distinguished in farmed and wild skins, which come from Europe and North America respectively, and are therefore subject to different management and rules.
The first type is managed entirely by the European auction Saga Furs, which controls, regulates, assimilates and sells the raw skins. The Saga Furs system emphasizes the importance of control over the farms which, by adhering to the Saga Furs program, are kept under strict control on the most delicate aspects such as animal welfare, but above all make the skins traceable from birth to sale. The control system and the various rules are based on standards defined by the breeders, the Council of European Reccomendation on Fur farming and Sagafurs; the breeders are given the qualification and authorization to be suppliers of Saga Furs, without which they cannot sell their products.
In short we can define the traceability system of Saga Furs in a few crucial and fundamental points:
1 – animal health and welfare;
2 – conditions, constant analysis and modification, if necessary, of the various life cycles of the farm animal;
3 – hygienic situation of the farms;
4 – health of farmed animals kept under control by experienced veterinarians who follow the protocols established in the Finnish Animal Welfar Act.
5 – environmental management ⊕;
6 – nutrition management ⊕;
7- staff preparation ⊕.
Following these basic rules in constant development through FIFUR (Finnish Fur Breaders Association) Saga Furs and WelFur, the certifications are verified by third parties such as, for Finland, Finland Luova Ltd, which actually verifies in the breeding the established rules, while, as regards the hides coming from areas outside Finland, the certifications are verified by DVN GL taking as basis the rules established by Saga Furs and WelFur and confirmed by Baltic Control®.
As already explained, the Saga Fur certificate includes the protocol drawn up by WelFur, a scientific research study reported in various documents on animal welfare in which many universities have participated. ⊕.
The second type, wild, is managed in part by the FHA North Bay auction, and in part directly by one of our managers. The supply of hides and skins follows the felling plans established and regulated by law by the Canadian state, which guarantees the integrity of the territory and, what is of great importance, constantly gives the Natives and inhabitants of remote areas the possibility to have a livelihood from the sale of these skins and skins since before 1600, when the historical Hudson Bay Company was founded, a commercial enterprise that managed sales to European countries.
In addition to being a tradition of excellence, the wildlife trade is a modern example of the application of the principles of conservation and sustainable development; years of history have brought this type of hunting to a very high level of respect for the environment, with the use of Cruelty Free traps tested and approved (AIHTS agreements 1997), with a situation updated annually on the animal species at risk described in the site species-registry. canada.ca (subsection Sara) and a constant physical control by the forestry authority on both the documents used for the movement of hides between regions and in the tanneries.
Leaving aside as well known their basic characteristics, the beaver is an animal that if not controlled may have the potential to compromise the water system of some areas. The reference article from the site ilpost.it of 2016 (read), reports a problem related to the abandonment of some specimens in a vast territory and rich in trees; since the beaver has the peculiarity of building dams in waterways as a consequence quite serious was the unlimited multiplication of the number of specimens worsening from year to year the situation of the ecosystem.
The ecosystem of that area, as specified in the article, does not have a balance of the various animal species and the only way to limit the problem has been the felling.
Circular Economy
The world of fashion can hardly make use of ecological titles, for obvious reasons, especially related to the biodegradability of the fabrics and processes they contain. For this reason, the concept of “Circular Economy” has been slightly twisted to embrace this vast sector, creating a virtuous path that is slightly different from the true ecological concept, but still worthy of praise.
The traditional circular economy is a path composed as follows:
Natural Resources –> Design –> Manufacturing –> Distribution –> Consumption –> Collection –> Recycling –> Decomposition –> Natural Resources –>…
The commonly accepted concept of circularity for the fashion world is slightly abbreviated:
Natural Resources –> Design –> Production –> Distribution –> Consumption –> Collection –> Recycling –> Design –>…
Obviously this last path, being appreciable as an ecological concept, is not a cycle that can be repeated indefinitely, since recycled and re-modeled fabrics do not have a very long life.
Natural skins are one of the very few materials in the fashion world, which can fit into both concepts of Circular Economy!
The high biodegradability capacity of natural fur makes it a perfect part of the true ecological concept, closing a cycle that could be repeated ad infinitum. What’s more, the already well-known concept of Pattern Remaking in which we have always believed, gives these garments a very long life, revising their design to adapt to fashions and pass from generation to generation.
Circular Economy
The world of fashion can hardly make use of ecological titles, for obvious reasons, especially related to the biodegradability of the fabrics and processes they contain. For this reason, the concept of “Circular Economy” has been slightly twisted to embrace this vast sector, creating a virtuous path that is slightly different from the true ecological concept, but still worthy of praise.
The traditional circular economy is a path composed as follows:
Natural Resources –> Design –> Manufacturing –> Distribution –> Consumption –> Collection –> Recycling –> Decomposition –> Natural Resources –>…
The commonly accepted concept of circularity for the fashion world is slightly abbreviated:
Natural Resources –> Design –> Production –> Distribution –> Consumption –> Collection –> Recycling –> Design –>…
Obviously this last path, being appreciable as an ecological concept, is not a cycle that can be repeated indefinitely, since recycled and re-modeled fabrics do not have a very long life.
Natural skins are one of the very few materials in the fashion world, which can fit into both concepts of Circular Economy!
The high biodegradability capacity of natural fur makes it a perfect part of the true ecological concept, closing a cycle that could be repeated ad infinitum. What’s more, the already well-known concept of Pattern Remaking in which we have always believed, gives these garments a very long life, revising their design to adapt to fashions and pass from generation to generation.
