In a commentary for the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily, Maria Girich, researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department supported the initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ban the use of misleading terms such as "eco-leather" and "vegan leather."
The expert explained that the main goal of the proposed measure is consumer protection. According to Maria Girich, the prefix "eco" creates a misconception among the buyers about the safety and environmental friendliness of the material, which often fails to correspond to reality. "Eco–leather, for example, is often made out of petrochemical products (polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane), which have nothing to do with environmental friendliness," said Maria Girich.
Maria Girich also added that other important innovations will follow the change in terminology. "Product labels are most likely to change. In addition, if we talk about setting new requirements to goods, it will be necessary to comply with the requirements for mechanical parameters of products (strength of fastening handles, seams, etc.), chemical (release of harmful chemicals) and biological parameters (color fastness)," the expert concluded.