Fur is also comes from factory-farmed animals. Overall, some 44 million animals are killed each year for their furs. One 40' long wild mink coat can represent sixty' target' animals and 180 unintended victims. Leather is a byproduct of the meat industry and more profitable than its main product. Leather tanneries release large amounts of toxic chemicals into waterways.
Natural dyes can consume a lot of resources.
155,000 dried cochineal insects are needed to make 1 kg of red cochineal dye. The largest American gold mine produce 50 kilograms of gold a day out of 325,000 tonnes of rock ore, thus creating huge wastes. Mercury and cyanide are commonly released by gold mining techniques. The capital cost of a recycling rag bank is some 400 but the initial investment can be recouped in just 20 weeks. Americans throw out enough clothes and footwear each year to fill juggernauts stretching 86 miles.