CreatripTeam

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission sanctioned greenwashing in May after brands labeled synthetic leather as ‘Eco’ or ‘Vegan’ (vegan) to imply environmental or plant-based benefits. Five months later, shoppers still find jackets labeled with mixed terms—Faux (faux), Vegan, Synthetic (synthetic) or simply “Leather”—making it hard to tell real leather from polyurethane (PU) or PVC-based artificial leather. Industry sources say many consumers assume “vegan leather” is plant-based, but most products are PU. The commission warned major SPA brands, yet retail displays continue to use varied names that can mislead buyers. Experts call for clearer labeling standards; consumers are advised to check product material listings (PU, PVC, or animal hide like cow/sheep) for certainty. The report notes exceptions like vegetable-tanned leather (vegetable leather) and full-grain leather (full-grain leather) as genuine natural-leather types.