On July 25 (local time), the Daily Mail stated that Leonardo DiCaprio had put some of his wealth, which exceeds 300 million USD, towards the “vegan”shoe company Wild Loci.
Wild Loci, a company established in 2021 and based in London, is dedicated to creating environmentally-friendly sports shoes using materials such as bamboo, foam, rubber, and recycled plastics. Their collection includes a variety of styles and sizes for both men and women, and the retail prices range from £120-£170 (USD 155-220). The brand has gained popularity among celebrities, with actress Lily James and Princess Eugenie among its customers.
Over the course of 12 months, the famous actor from “Titanic”has contributed £3 million (USD 3.86 million) towards this environmentally-conscious fashion label.
In a July 2023 interview with the Daily Mail, co-founder Emmanuel Eribo of Wild Loci expressed his gratitude for having Leonardo DiCaprio as one of their investors. He described DiCaprio as a genuine and compassionate individual who shares their vision for the world. Despite not needing to be a part of their team, Eribo believes there is a strong driving force behind DiCaprio’s involvement. In just two words, Eribo would describe DiCaprio as sincere and kind, proving that it is possible to care about the world while still striving for positive outcomes.
The actor had great expectations for Wild Loci at the time. He shared his satisfaction in becoming an investor in a brand that prioritized reducing environmental harm and producing ethical, animal-friendly shoes.
Nevertheless, Leo may now need to reassess any additional investments due to the recent financial report indicating significant losses for the company.
Based on the report submitted to Companies House (the UK’s official business registry), Wild Loci Ltd suffered a loss of £2,700,454 (equivalent to USD 3,479,440) as of April 2023. In the previous year, the company reported a loss of £966,809 (equivalent to USD 1,245,796).
Despite the losses, Leonardo’s team has not made any comments. In an interview with MailOnline, Emmanuel emphasized that a startup’s success should not be determined solely by its financial reports. He pointed out that the company has only been in operation for 3.5 years and needs more resources and time to achieve its goal of expanding into the UK and US markets. Additionally, the company’s focus is not just on profits but also on making a positive impact, such as removing plastic bottles from the ocean, protecting sea turtles, and promoting young artists in various fields.
Allegations of Inconsistency
In 2023, faced with accusations of hypocrisy for enjoying a luxurious lifestyle while advocating for action against climate change, Leonardo DiCaprio made the decision to invest in Wild Loci.
Before, he was recognized as a fervent advocate for environmental causes, firmly believing that climate change poses the greatest imminent danger to humanity.
At the age of 24, in 1998, he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with the goal of raising awareness and providing financial support for the preservation of biodiversity, conservation of oceans and forests, and prevention of climate change.
The actor is a member of the board for multiple environmental protection organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Pristine Seas, and Oceans 5.
It is also thought that he donated £75 million (USD 97 million) towards international conservation initiatives that seek to safeguard vulnerable species and land from developers.
Leo received the Clinton Global Citizen Award in recognition of his charitable contributions and currently holds the role of United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change.
Despite this, he has received harsh backlash in recent times due to his environmentally damaging habits. Along with owning various residences and indulging in extravagant yacht gatherings, he frequently relies on private jets for quick and frequent travels.
Despite winning an Oscar in 2016, the actor faced criticism for his decision to take a private jet trip spanning nearly 13,000 km from Europe to New York City in order to receive an environmental award. While the carbon emissions of private jets can vary, statistics indicate that they can be up to 37 times higher than those of commercial planes.
Following the controversy, Leo appeared to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. He redeemed himself by choosing to travel to Glasgow (Scotland) for the COP26 climate summit via commercial flight.
Despite his attendance at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards event with leaders in sustainable fashion and social activism in Los Angeles in March 2023, accusations of double standards resurfaced for Leo. This was due to his previous travels where he had flown a total of 19,300 km in just two weeks to hang out with models and travel between cities such as London, Milan (Italy), and Paris (France).
The origin of the information is K14.
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