A Deep Dive into Vegan Leather
Most people are aware that a vegan diet tends to be more sustainable than a diet consisting of meat and dairy. Because of this, a lot of people make the assumption that everything with the word vegan is automatically sustainable, even clothing. But what about when it comes to vegan leather?
The rise of the term “vegan leather” began around 10 years ago. Designers started to adopt the ultra-trendy lifestyle of a vegan diet and wanted their work to reflect their newfound beliefs. And the term vegan leather was born! Formally known as faux leather, this rebrand excited customers and ensured that faux leather goods were made ethically. And now the word vegan for many people sparks thoughts of ethics and morality, which is a motivating force to buy vegan leather.
But is vegan leather more sustainable than its real counterpart? The answer is not that easy.
Making Vegan Leather
There are two different ways to make vegan leather. One way is with plant-based materials, such as pineapple leaves, apple peels, bananas, coffee grounds, and so much more. And the other way is with artificial materials, such as polyurethane-based materials and recycled plastics.
Vegan leather made from plastics can pose hazards both during and after it is produced. If plastic-based vegan leather products end up in landfills or in the water, it can cause drastic effects on the environment. It’s no secret that plastic is detrimental to the environment, but people fail to realize that these plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose.
What is Sustainable Vegan Leather?
Plant-based vegan leathers are much more sustainable than ones made from plastics. They are definitely the way to go when it comes down to environmental and ethical factors. Plant-based leathers are extremely durable and have a similar look and feel to real leathers. Also, plant-based leathers have 40 times a lower carbon impact than traditional leathers and 17 times a lower carbon impact than synthetic-based vegan leather.
When it comes to real leather, the environmental impact is much worse than vegan leather. The leather industry has many ethical concerns, which is why people may opt for an alternative. People may also choose to avoid leather products because of the numerous environmental products. For example, livestock raised for leather has led to gas emissions, deforestation, and the overuse of water.
Tanning is also a part of the leather-making process that stops the animal hide from decomposing and gives it its color. Chemicals involved in the tanning process can be highly toxic, and not only bad for the environment, but bad for people’s health. Most leather in the United States is chrome-tanned, and all waste from this is considered dangerous.
Bottom line, vegan leather wins this debate. Vegan leather has substantially more positives than it does negatives. But, the best option is plant-based vegan leather, because it has the most benefits out of all the kinds of leather. So make sure to shop for plant based vegan leather from now on!
Written by Alyssa Barnes
Alyssa Barnes is a junior at the University of Florida majoring in Journalism. She loves writing about all things entertainment, beauty, and fashion. In her free time, you can catch her sipping a chia latte, working out, or binge-watching The Kardashians.