Vegan leather is everything. This is the response you get from anyone who supports more eco-friendly consumer practices. In contrast to animal hides, vegan leather is known to be cruelty-free and is a good alternative to animal leather.
Without a doubt, climate change and environmental degradation significantly impact our lives and how businesses operate. The fashion industry, from manufacture to disposal, has a significant environmental impact.
This is not only concerning for the environment but also for ethical consumer behavior. As a result, many sectors are transitioning to more sustainable fashion options.
One notable shift is the usage of vegan leather. At the same time, many people wonder, "What is vegan leather made of?"
Let’s dig deep into everything you must know about vegan leather.
What is Vegan Leather?
"Vegan leather" is a catch-all word for any leather that is not derived from animals. Simply put, any non-animal leather is vegan. Vegan leather is becoming more popular; the market is expected to be worth $204 million by 2030, and there are different types of vegan leather in the market now. Top of them are:
- PVC
- Polyurethane (PU)
- Cork leather
- Recycled plastic
Animal Leather, as a byproduct of the meat industry, contributes to the environmental harm produced by animal husbandry, which is one of the primary causes of the climate crisis.
Furthermore, converting animal skin into leather necessitates a lot of energy and a plethora of chemicals, including chromium, mineral salts, coal-tar derivatives, formaldehyde, oils, dyes, and finishes, some of which contain cyanide. This method, which halts disintegration through chemical baths and dehydration, stops animal-derived leather from biodegrading.
On the other hand, the argument of using plastic for vegan leather is also justified because it is no friend to the environment.
But today, vegan leather doesn’t just rely on plastic but many other materials and sources, too (which we will discuss next).
Right now, you need to know that many of these materials use far fewer chemicals than plastic or animal leathers, pollute less water and soil, and are biodegradable in some cases.
So, What Materials are Used to Make Vegan Leather
Not all vegan leathers are created equal, and therefore, you must know the materials used for it.
Plant-Based Alternatives:
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Pineapple Leaf Leather (Piñatex)
Ananas Anam created pineapple leather from waste pineapple leaf fibers. The fibers are then commonly coated with a water-based polyurethane resin, which can be biodegradable in some circumstances. Many popular brands use Piñtatex (which is now widely available).
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Cactus Leather
Cactus leather is derived from the nopal cacti (Opuntia ficus-indica), often known as prickly pear or Indian fig opuntia. The fact that Cactus leather is derived directly from the prickly pear cactus makes it a relatively sustainable material.
Desserto is right now the only company making cactus leather. The farming practices are organically certified, and the crops are watered solely by rainfall, avoiding the need for additional water.
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Kombucha SCOBY Leather
Kombucha SCOBY leather is a flexible biomaterial derived from kombucha cellulose and yeast. A SCOBY thickens with each brew as the culture feeds on the dissolved sugar, polyphenols, and other nutrients found in newly brewed and sweetened tea.
Once the SCOBY reaches the desired size, it is harvested and processed similarly to traditional textile leather, followed by a drying process before being shaped into shape.
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Mushroom Leather (Mycelium)
Mushroom leather is a vegan-friendly leather that may be used in the same way that animal leather is (for shoes, bags, and garments).
This plant-based leather is created from mycelium, a vegetative element of fungi. Mushrooms are members of the fungus kingdom, yet they have particular qualities that make them ideal for producing leather-like materials.
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Corn Leather
Corn leather is manufactured in part from corn, as the name implies. Plant-based materials account for well more than half of the total material content, which includes maize husks and vegetable oils. The remaining content comprises synthetic compounds that have been combined with plant-based components.
Corn takes approximately 120 days to mature from seed to harvest (whereas cows are killed after up to two years of grazing and growth). This significantly shorter time frame makes maize production more efficient and sustainable.
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Fruit Waste Leather
Fruit waste leather is a round, natural leather-like substance derived from food waste. The revolutionary substance is made from fruit waste, such as apple peels, mangoes, and other agricultural wastes.
It then uses a carefully developed procedure to produce a natural imitation leather-like material.
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Cork
Cork leather is made from oak bark and is an innovative and environmentally friendly leather fabric that feels as soft to the touch as leather.
Synthetic Alternatives:
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Polyurethane (PU)
Polyurethane, the most commonly used substance in vegan leathers, is a petroleum-based synthetic polymer. It is frequently combined with a cloth backing to create vegan leather. It is significantly more breathable, flexible, and lighter than the well-known PVC (vinyl) plastic, and while PU manufacture is not completely non-toxic, it is a much greener option.
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Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC leather is a popular synthetic material made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, and stabilizers.
It is well-known for its durability and is used in many leather products, too.
However, it lacks breathability when compared to natural leather and can grow hard and brittle in cold climates.
Moreover, The PVC lifespan, which includes production, usage, and disposal, culminates in the release of hazardous, chlorine-based compounds. These pollutants are accumulating in the water, air, and food chain. The end consequence is serious health concerns such as cancer, immune system damage, and hormone imbalance.
Environmental and Ethical Impacts of Vegan Leather
Is vegan leather truly sustainable, or are we just being duped by the fashion industry? However, some materials, such as PVC, may still be harmful to the environment. However, other materials are environmentally benign and can provide numerous benefits, such as:
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Reduced Energy Consumption
Upcycling often utilizes less energy than generating the synthetic materials used in the vegan leather industry since it recycles existing materials. This decreases its carbon footprint.
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Waste Reduction
Unlike the manufacturing method of vegan leather manufacturers, upcycling repurposes discarded or underused materials, hence reducing waste.
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Lower Environmental Impact
The extraction and processing of plant-based leather products can pollute the environment and contribute to the depletion of scarce resources. In contrast, upcycled materials repurpose existing resources, reducing the demand for new raw materials.
Challenges for the Industry:
Vegan leather's main disadvantage is the occasional use of plastics (PVC and PU), which are fully non-biodegradable and will endure forever. Some feel the effect of imitation leather to be worse than that of real leather.
Nonetheless, the larger issue is how the fashion industry purposefully conceals it through the widespread use of greenwashing. The public is led to assume that all vegan leather has no negative environmental implications since it is constantly marketed as a sustainable alternative.
Consider the possibility that petroleum-based synthetic leather made of plastic will reach the magnitude of the rapid fashion trend currently dominating the fashion industry. That is the direction the vegan leather business is taking. Because plastic takes decades to biodegrade, employing easy-to-produce, low-cost synthetics to market things in large quantities will just lead to more landfills.
This is where we should regulate the vegan leather industry. More policies and standards are needed to promote balanced durability, sustainability, and ethical production practices.
How to make it possible?
The best step could be to focus on other materials like plant or fruit-based leathers.
Extend the research into these materials for both ethical and environmental benefits. It may lead to more feasible vegan leather solutions.
For example, advancements in algae-based materials or biodegradable composites could give more sustainable options.
The Role of Organizations
PETA actively promotes awareness of the effects of animal cruelty on leather products. Activists demonstrate it in a variety of ways around the world.
They have activists and supporters who have revealed systemic cruelty in the skin (leather), wool, down, cashmere, mohair, and fur businesses. Furthermore, they perform continuing investigations into these areas, which reveal widespread and unrelenting animal maltreatment.
Furthermore, it teaches people about the advantages of vegan leather.
The Future of Vegan Leather
Researchers have created a plant-based leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and natural rubber (NR), which significantly advances sustainable materials research.
With its exceptional strength and sustainability, this eco-friendly material has the potential to forever change the leather industry.
Moreover, with 90% of the market shift, the researchers are developing a durable, plastic-free, eco-friendly leather substitute from pineapple leaf fiber and natural rubber that outperformed existing plant-based leathers in terms of strength and sustainability. One example of this is Dole. This company is turning pineapple leaves into sustainable vegan leather as part of its waste-reduction efforts.
We discussed all the feasible materials for vegan leather and they are the promising future of the fashion industry for sustainable leather.
Conclusion
As customer demand for vegan or cruelty-free products grows, the industry is obliged to consider alternatives. Because plastic, such as PVC, is also a cruel method, many firms are switching to alternative leather production methods such as pineapple, cactus, and so on.
It is not surprising that shortly, no brand will provide original leather. However, we must still ensure that faux leather is produced ethically. Some brands have already implemented it, while others are still battling.
But if you're seeking vegan leather jacket womens and accessories, FMCo NY has the best selection. Simply explore and shop for the highest quality faux leather jackets.
