Sustainable leather is an ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional leather that is typically produced by raising animals specifically for their skins. This type of leather is considered sustainable because it is a byproduct of local farming and agriculture industries, where animals are primarily raised for food and other purposes.
At our company, we prioritize ethical and sustainable practices when sourcing our leather. We work with local providers who prioritize animal welfare and receive fair-trade prices for their products. By using ethically sourced leather from food animals, we minimize the environmental impact on local agriculture and other processes. Additionally, our products are hand-made, which further reduces our industrial footprint and ensures that our processes are low-impact and sustainable.
Leather is a ubiquitous material found in various products, including footwear, accessories, and furniture. However, its impact extends far beyond the immediate user. The production of leather involves the slaughter of billions of cows every year. The livestock sector, which encompasses both food and leather production, is the primary land use worldwide. Grazing land and feed crops for cattle often result in deforestation, eliminating critical carbon sinks, disrupting ecosystems, and affecting nearby communities. Additionally, cows emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Leather is a ubiquitous material found in various products, including footwear, accessories, and furniture. However, its impact extends far beyond the immediate user. The production of leather involves the slaughter of billions of cows every year. The livestock sector, which encompasses both food and leather production, is the primary land use worldwide. Grazing land and feed crops for cattle often result in deforestation, eliminating critical carbon sinks, disrupting ecosystems, and affecting nearby communities. Additionally, cows emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
However, there is a constant change in this industry and there are new things brought up in the leather section and some are even surprising considering the material used in it.
CACTI, A NEW ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL-BASED LEATHER
A novel substitute for conventional leather made from animals has been created by Marte Cázarez and Adrián López Velarde utilizing the Nopal cactus, sometimes known as the prickly pear. Famous stores like Karl Lagerfeld, Fossil, and Everlane have begun selling leather goods produced from cactus-based material after learning about their product, Desserts. Even Mercedes-Benz has included their faux-leather Deserttex product in an electrified concept car.
Desserto cacti are typical of other cacti in that they can survive in dry environments. Rainfall is the only source of water for the cacti, thus irrigation methods are not required for their maintenance. Desserto's water-saving qualities are amazing; the business claims that its product saves 190% more water than vegan products made of polyurethane and 164,650% more water than typical animal leather.
The Nopal cactus used to create Desserto, a new type of leather, has the added benefit of sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. The company's 14-acre farm where the Prickly Pears are grown is reported to absorb 8,100 tons of CO2 annually. Although the emissions produced by the products are more than this, the carbon sequestration by the cacti is still significant. In addition, the company uses organic growing methods on their land and repurposes the byproducts of production as animal feed. These sustainable practices further enhance the environmental benefits of Desserto.
HOW IS SUSTAINABLE LEATHER MADE?
Sustainable leather is a product that is manufactured with a focus on both environmental and social sustainability throughout the entire production process. This includes the sourcing of raw materials, the tanning process, the sewing of leather pieces together, and the transportation of finished products to customers. The goal is to create a product that is not only high-quality and visually appealing but also has a minimal negative impact on the planet and the communities involved in its production.
SUSTAINABLE LEATHER PRODUCTION & SOURCING
The sustainable leather sourcing process involves the use of animals that are not raised solely for the purpose of leather production. Instead, the leather is obtained as a byproduct of local farming. This practice contributes to a circular economy that ensures no part of the animal is wasted, thereby reducing environmental impact.
In addition to being environmentally conscious, sustainable leather sourcing also prioritizes animal welfare and cruelty-free practices. Unlike other farms where animals are often treated poorly and raised solely for leather manufacturing purposes, sourcing leather from local farms promotes the ethical treatment of animals. This approach is consistent with sustainable and socially responsible business practices that aim to balance environmental concerns with ethical considerations.
SUSTAINABLE LEATHER TANNING
Tanneries that do not prioritize environmentally conscious practices can cause severe harm to both people and the planet. Many companies may use harmful chemicals, such as trivalent chromium, formaldehyde, and alum during the tanning process. These chemicals can emit dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can cause minor irritations or even lead to mutations and cancer.
The use of such chemicals not only harms individuals who wear leather products but also puts workers in the tanning industry at risk. Furthermore, these substances can cause severe damage to the environment.
On the other hand, sustainable leather is tanned using recycled water and without the use of harmful artificial chemicals. Additionally, the process of tanning is done by hand, which further reduces the environmental footprint. By adopting environmentally-friendly practices, the overall impact of the leather industry and each of its products can be significantly reduced.
The leather industry has significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, and traceability issues. To address these concerns, we prioritize the use of traditional handcrafting techniques and regional and local sourcing strategies. This approach helps to reduce the reliance on harmful substances like chromium, which are often present in our competitors' products. Furthermore, we demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability by using recycled water to reduce wastewater and minimize our environmental impact. Additionally, we hold our partners to high standards in their tanning and preparation processes to ensure that our leather is sourced and produced sustainably.
WHAT IS “ECO LEATHER”?
The term "eco-leather" is commonly used in the leather industry to refer to leather that has been produced using ecologically or animal-friendly practices, which may include the use of plant-based materials. However, many of these alternative materials are produced using processes that are ironically harmful to the environment.
Here, we prefer to use the term "sustainable leather" because it more accurately represents our commitment to ecological, cultural, and economic sustainability. Our leather is made from real animal skin sourced from animals raised locally for food.
We stand by our ethical leather and its sourcing because it is not derived from plastic, wood fibers, or other non-animal materials that would require chemical production and leave behind industrial waste. Some fashion brands may mislead consumers by marketing "eco-leather" as "vegan leather" or "pleather," when it is actually made of plastic.
Our local tanning process for our leather goods involves recycling water and uses non-artificial methods, following traditional local practices.
THE LONGEVITY OF PLEATHER VS REAL LEATHER
Pleather may seem like a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to real leather, but it has some serious downsides. One of the biggest issues is its durability. Because pleather is typically made of cheap plastics, it tends to wear out much more quickly than real leather products, often lasting only a few years at best.
On the other hand, real animal leather products can last a lifetime or even longer when taken care of properly. Whether it's a leather backpack that accompanies you on all your adventures, or a handcrafted leather wallet that gets better with age, high-quality leather goods are a worthwhile investment that can be passed down through generations.
Investing in durable, long-lasting products is a crucial step in promoting sustainability. By keeping items in a circular rather than linear life cycle, we reduce our impact on the environment and ultimately consume less over time.
IS VEGAN LEATHER REALLY ECO-FRIENDLY?
When it comes to finding sustainable and environmentally friendly leather, many people automatically assume that products made from vegan or eco-leather are the way to go. However, that's not always the case. While there are some plant-based leathers available, most vegan leather is actually made from two different types of plastic polymers: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These "faux leathers" are essentially plastic that has been treated with other harmful chemicals, and as they break down in landfills, those toxins are released back into the environment. Unlike traditional leather made from animal skin, plastic-based vegan leathers take years to break down.
Though 'vegan leather' and 'pleather' are marketed as eco-friendly alternatives to genuine leather, they're often just buzzwords used by the fashion industry to disguise their true nature—plastic-based materials. While they may not come from animal hides, their environmental impact can be even more damaging than traditional leather.
SUSTAINABLE LEATHER THAT IS ETHICAL TOO
To achieve true sustainability in the leather industry, it is essential that fair treatment and living wages are provided to those involved in the production process. The sustainability of leather extends beyond its environmental impact and must also encompass the socioeconomic well-being of its manufacturers. Therefore, a sustainable approach to leather production must prioritize the promotion of a sustainable way of life and just compensation for those involved in the manufacturing of leather goods.
PINEAPPLE LEAVES
Can pineapple be used in leather? Carmen Hijosa, a former leather goods industry worker, believed it could. She founded Ananas Anam and created Piñatex, a pineapple-leaf-based product now used by popular brands like Nike, H&M, Paul Smith, and Hugo Boss. The company partners with Filipino pineapple farmers, collecting leaves that would have gone to waste and transforming them into a valuable new product. It takes around 480 leaves to create one square meter of Piñatex, which weighs and costs less than traditional leather. The cellulose fibers are sun-dried, purified, and transformed into a mesh finished with a plant-based resin. According to Hijosa, the entire process generates very little waste, while traditional leather-making wastes about 30% of leather skins.
PALM LEAVES FROM AND BETEL NUT TREES
A decade ago, Tjeerd Veen Hoven, a designer from the Netherlands, led the way in the alternative-leather movement with his creation of Palm leather. Veen Hoven was inspired by the abundance of Areca Betel Nut Palm trees in southern India, which produce 80 million leaves that are not utilized. He discovered that by dipping the brittle leaves in a solution of glycerin, water, and other natural ingredients, they become more flexible. Now, factories in India, the Dominican Republic, and Sri Lanka produce Palm leather that can be used to make various items, including bags, book jackets, shoes, and distinctive Palm leather Filigree Rugs.
Palm Leaves Used As Leather
IN CONCLUSION
"vegan leathers" made from cheap plastic and toxic chemicals are not truly sustainable leather alternatives. When compared to sustainably crafted animal leather options, they may be more harmful to both our bodies and the planet. So, if you want to make a responsible choice, choose real leather that is sourced and produced in an ethical and sustainable way.