Europe's fashion industry accelerates the "shift away from genuine fur"

In December 2023, the Polish parliament passed legislation officially banning the farming of animals such as mink and foxes for fur, marking a new phase in Europe's animal welfare policies and the transformation of the fashion industry. As one of the world's largest fur-producing countries, Poland produces approximately 5 million mink pelts annually, accounting for 10% of global mink fur production. After the implementation of the ban, European fur production is expected to shrink by nearly one-third.

Poland's ban is not an isolated event. As early as 2021, the country had already imposed a temporary ban on mink farming. This legislation extends the ban to all fur-bearing animals and requires existing farms to gradually cease operations within one year of the law's enactment. Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus emphasized that this measure aims to "address the growing societal concern for animal welfare."

Poland's ban has accelerated Europe's shift away from genuine fur: Norway (effective 2025), Estonia (effective 2026), and 12 other EU countries have already enacted legislation to ban fur farming; over 1,500 fashion brands, including Gucci, Prada, and Versace, have announced they will stop using genuine fur; and the EU's "Fur-Free Europe" initiative has garnered more than 1.7 million citizen signatures, with the European Commission currently evaluating the feasibility of a comprehensive ban across the EU.

Since its peak in 2014, the global fur trade volume has declined by over 60%. Traditional consumer markets like China and the United States are also undergoing changes: California, New York, and other regions in the U.S. have banned fur sales; young Chinese consumers have shown a significant increase in acceptance of faux fur; and technological advancements have made faux fur nearly indistinguishable from genuine fur in texture and appearance, while reducing costs by more than 40%.

The transformation of Poland's fur industry faces challenges. The government plans to provide approximately€280 million in compensation to breeders and assist them in transitioning to alternative industries such as mushroom farming and renewable energy. Claire Bass, policy advisor for the International Fur-Free Alliance, stated, "Poland's ban shatters the stereotype that Eastern European countries depend on the fur industry." With the potential for an EU-wide ban and the U.K. considering a ban on fur imports, the traditional fur trade system is undergoing structural reconstruction. The fashion industry research institute Mintel predicts that the global faux fur market will surpass $2.5 billion by 2025, nearly tripling since 2019.

Driven by animal ethics, consumer attitudes, and industrial innovation, this transformation is reshaping the entire chain from farms to fashion runways, marking a pivotal turning point in Europe's transition toward "ethical fashion."