Already renowned as one of the most sustainable cities in the United States, not least thanks to its ban on plastic bottles, San Francisco is adding another chapter to its responsible governance by banning the sale of any product containing animal fur. With this measure, the city joins other localities in the US and around the world — such as the recent case of Norway — in prohibiting the sale of a material that, even today, is based on production processes that are harmful to the environment and involve the exploitation of animals subjected to violent and cruel practices.

Read also: Fur: a new investigation by Essere Animali confirms the suffering endured by minks

San Francisco: the ordinance banning fur

Strongly championed by the city's District 4 Supervisor, Katy Tang, who argues that "it's out of style to take the life of other living beings for the sole purpose of wearing them," the ordinance banning the trade in animal fur in San Francisco will come into force as early as next year, allowing retailers to clear their existing stock until 2020. Specifically, the ban will apply to newly manufactured products, while second-hand items will be exempt. Violators may be penalised with a fine of up to one thousand dollars.

The measure stems from a report by Tang produced in collaboration with the animal rights organisation Peta, which found that more than 50 million fur animals are raised in cages or severely confined conditions before being violently killed. Furthermore, the processing of the pelts contributes to global pollution because it involves the use of chemical agents and large quantities of energy. For this reason, and out of the love for animals that defines the city, the Supervisor declared that "it is unacceptable for San Francisco to continue selling this type of product. We must be an example to other cities and to the entire globe to join us in banning fur clothing."

Read also: Norway has chosen to dismantle fur production, starting with fox and mink

And in Italy?

While the biggest fashion brands, such as Gucci, Armani and Michael Kors, have already removed fur from their collections, and despite many European countries — including Germany, Austria, England and the already-mentioned Norway — having already banned fur farming on their national territory, in Italy we continue to kill more than 200,000 minks a year, according to an investigation carried out by the association Essere animali.

Read also: Blood less fur: eco-friendly furs are becoming increasingly trendy

Considering that fur farming has never been particularly significant from an economic standpoint, perhaps the time has come to follow the example of San Francisco and other cities that have finally understood the importance of innovating in step with both the new trends emerging from the world of fashion and the needs of consumers who are increasingly aware of and responsible towards the environment and, above all, animals.

Cover image: a model wearing a mink fur coat purchased at a market stall © Matt Cardy/Getty Images