Fur

In a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States, American department store chain Nordstrom has committed to banning exotic animal skins and real fur from its 355 stores. While other chains have adopted a fur-free policy in the past, Nordstrom will be the first US-based retailer to prohibit clothing and accessories made with skins of exotic animals.

Nordstrom's private labels have been free of fur and exotic animal skin for years, so the company's chief merchandising officer Teri Bariquit, and will encourage brands impacted by their new policy to "re-evaluate their use of fur and exotic animal skins."

Nordstrom will still sell products made out of the skin of cows, calves, sheep, lambs, pigs, goats and water buffalo but will exclude products derived from snakes, alligators, lizards, pythons, crocodiles, sharks, kangaroos, ostriches and stingrays.

According to reports Zac Goldsmith, minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is considering a ban on all fur sales in the United Kingdom following the leave of the European Union's single market.

A spokesperson for the department has commented on the reports that "fur farming has rightly been banned in this country for nearly 20 years. Once our future relationship with the EU has been established there will be an opportunity for the government to consider further steps it could take in relation to fur sales".