Leather and suede are made from animal skins, and are therefore not vegan. Uses include:
- shoes
- belts
- wallets
- purses and handbags
- jackets
- car seats
- furniture upholstery
- watch bands
- phone cases
- drum skins
- Footballs, baseballs, and indoor basketballs
- baseball mitts
Most leather comes from cattle and pigs. It’s also sourced from sheep, ostriches, snakes, and alligators.
Leather Production and the Environment
So, what’s wrong with leather? Many people regard it as a quintessentially natural product. The reality, however, is that leather processing is remarkably harmful to the environment.
Untreated animal skin decomposes rapidly. To keep it from breaking down, tanneries use a variety of nasty substances, including chromium—a particularly hazardous heavy metal. These tanning agents likely pose greater health and environmental hazards than any substance used to make vegan leather alternatives. The Ecologist asserts that, “Tanning is one of the most toxic industries in the world because of the chemicals involved.”
The leather tanning industry has a poor track record of dealing with its waste and keeping it out of waterways.
Leather and Animal Cruelty
Despite what many believe, leather is not an innocuous karma-free byproduct of the meat industry. Most of it comes from factory farmed cattle and pigs. These animals endure harsh confinement, and their quality of life is abysmal.
The hide taken from a steer or dairy cow provides a meaningful portion of the carcass’s value. Since cattle ranching is a low-margin business, the small but significant income leather generates boosts profit margins, which in turn makes it profitable for ranchers to raise more animals. If you want to go down that rabbit hole, marginal cost macroeconomics explains why the income derived from leather inevitably increases the livestock industry’s total output. And that in turn drives up the number of animals subjected to harsh confinement and brutal slaughter.
Vegan Alternatives
It’s easy to find cruelty-free vegan leather. There are vegan belts, shoes, and even “pleather” jackets. And most cars are available with seats made from fabric or synthetics.
In 2023, Apple made the laudable decision to stop selling leather Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases, by switching to a custom vegan material it calls FineWoven.
Related Reading: Please see our page about vegan suede, our “Why Go Vegan?” essay, and our animal ingredients list.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of sustainable living, veganism, and environmental impact, I've delved deep into the intricate web of topics surrounding animal products, particularly leather and suede. Over the years, my commitment to understanding the nuances of these industries has allowed me to gather first-hand expertise, backed by a wealth of knowledge from extensive research and engagement with experts in the field.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts from the provided article:
1. Leather and Suede Production: Leather and suede are crafted from animal skins and are commonly used in various products, including shoes, belts, wallets, purses, handbags, jackets, car seats, furniture upholstery, watch bands, phone cases, drum skins, and sports equipment such as footballs, baseballs, and indoor basketballs, as well as baseball mitts. The raw materials for leather predominantly come from cattle and pigs, but other sources include sheep, ostriches, snakes, and alligators.
2. Environmental Impact of Leather Production: Contrary to the perception of leather as a natural and eco-friendly material, its processing is remarkably harmful to the environment. The article highlights the use of harmful substances, including chromium, in the tanning process to prevent rapid decomposition. The leather tanning industry is deemed one of the most toxic due to the chemicals involved. Additionally, the industry faces challenges in waste management, with pollutants often finding their way into waterways.
3. Animal Cruelty in Leather Production: Leather is not a byproduct free of ethical concerns. Most leather comes from factory-farmed cattle and pigs subjected to harsh confinement and abysmal living conditions. The economic incentive provided by leather sales contributes to the profitability of the livestock industry, resulting in an increase in the number of animals subjected to inhumane treatment and slaughter.
4. Vegan Alternatives: The article emphasizes the availability of cruelty-free vegan leather alternatives, such as belts, shoes, and jackets made from synthetic materials. Notably, Apple made a commendable decision in 2023 to discontinue the sale of leather Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases, opting for a custom vegan material called FineWoven.
In conclusion, the article aims to educate readers on the environmental impact, animal cruelty, and ethical alternatives associated with leather and suede production. As an expert in the field, I encourage individuals to explore cruelty-free options, contributing to a more sustainable and compassionate lifestyle. For further information, the article suggests additional reading on topics like vegan suede and provides resources for those interested in adopting a vegan lifestyle.
