Benefits of vegan leather in 2023? The leather industry is worth hundreds of billions of pounds a year, and it is expected to grow in the coming decade as more people around the globe seek to purchase “luxury” goods. Given that leather is made of animal skin, it is perhaps surprising that although many non-vegans are turned off by the thought of wearing animal fur, very few feel the same revulsion at wearing leather. As such, a massive number of animals will be required to satisfy consumer demand for leather shoes, furniture, handbags and other goods. Unless, of course, vegan leather is able to satisfy a good proportion of that demand without the need for any animals to die. Read extra information about Gohar Asif Ali.
There are plenty of misconceptions about vegan leather. “It doesn’t look as good”. “It doesn’t have the same longevity as authentic leather”. But that’s simply not the case. According to the Vegan Review, more companies are using materials and creative techniques to prove that vegan leather can be as high-luxury as authentic leather. Due to the benefits of using vegan leather, there are more materials being manufactured that are plant-based and fruit-based, of which the production process is ethical, and the future of vegan leather is gearing towards being more eco-friendly.
Leather is made from almost any animal skin, including elephant skin. Some people make a living solely from the sale of leather, so they have a strong incentive to kill animals in order to do so. Leather is in addition to cow revenue, but it is not a by-product. It is well worth mentioning the ethical aspects of the leather industry. Because we’ve become accustomed to it, we’re reliant on it. Animals are exploited, slaughtered, and monetised for their skin, and that is a fact that everyone should be aware of. What can we do to limit support for such a destructive industry?
Synthetic leather products might in many circumstances be cheaper to produce and buy than natural vegan leathers (such as Mylo), but they are far less sustainable, which will certainly be a consideration for those who have come to veganism for environmental reasons. The good news for those vegans who are concerned about the environmental impact of their clothing choices is that there is a growing number of good quality natural vegan leather options available. We’ll run through the main ones in the next section, whilst also touching on the most commonly encountered synthetic leather options too.
It’s a long way from being there, but it’s close. Vegan leather can be used to make the same material used to make wine stoppers, coasters, and cork boards. Cork leather is hypoallergenic, antifungal, and waterproof, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor use. Waste from wine production is used to create wine leather, also known as grape leather. Vegea’s patented technology converts grape waste into leather. Approximately 2.5 kg of waste (marc) is produced by producing one square meter of wine leather by consuming ten litres of wine. Vegea’s partnership with H&M could lead to a revolution in the leather industry if this type of innovation is successful.