Whether it’s the coolness of a stylish leather jacket or the practicality of a good pair of hiking boots, giving up leather is a bigger challenge than switching to a vegetarian diet. While some brands are making sustainability stylish, finding durable and functional alternatives to leather products remains a challenge. Plant-based leather shows promise, but most of it is still in the development stages. We’ve done the research for you. We’ve found several brands that have made it out of the testing phase and are now offering plant-based leather products.
Why replace leather?
In addition to the significant ethical concerns surrounding animal agriculture, leather has a significant impact on the environment. Various animalsSome wildlife species are endangered or at risk of extinction. But the vast majority of leather products come from cowhide. Raising cattle, whether for meat, dairy or leather, is one of the most carbon-intensive forms of agriculture. CAFO (Centrally Managed Forest Operations) It also contributes to deforestation and desertification. Most of the skins used for leather are Waste In the meat industry, processing far outweighs any mitigating effects of animal agriculture.
To turn animal skins into leather, SunburnThe most commonly used industrial tanning methods are based on chromium, a heavy metal that is dangerous to both humans and the environment. 16,500 liters Wastewater containing chromium, sulfates and pathogens, which affect the health of tannery workers and pollute water sources in leather production areas, which are mainly Located in Countries with weak environmental protection.
Plant-based leather
Most vegan leather products are made from plastic, which has serious environmental impacts of its own. The best leather alternatives are neither animal nor petroleum-based. To date, there are very few plant-based leathers on the market, and none that have been studied with a life cycle analysis.
Most of the plant-based leathers available today still don’t perform as well as real leather. For example, pineapple leaf-based Piñatex Synthetic coatings are still necessary for waterproofing and durability (though some brands, like Allbirds, are developing bio-based polyurethanes for that purpose), but manufacturers are constantly working to improve their products, and there are a number of plant-based, leather-like fabrics available. under developmentAnother development is Scientists recently discovered How to grow vegan leather that dyes itself from bacteria.
Buying the products available so far proves that there is enough market demand to continue developing sustainable, plant-based leather alternatives that perform just as well as leather. If you work in the fashion industry or make your own clothes, most of the fibers listed here are available directly from developers or through the Online Specialists.
Plant-based leather products
Allegory
Women-owned, independent and socially responsible Allegory Instead of leather and PVC, the online-only company makes its bags and wallets in a factory in New York City. They use leather made from discarded apple peels, cultivated cactus, and mangoes. They’re waterproofed with a wax that’s sold separately.
Nopal Leather
Two Mexican men have developed an eco-friendly, leather-like material from dry-grown nopal cactus. Their branded fabric is DessertIt is strong enough to be used as furniture and car seat upholstery, but consumers can find a few retail products made from the material. Black Nopal The brand uses only Deserto’s Nopal leather to make its belts and wallets. Many big name and designer brands have partnered with Deserto to produce products with Nopal leather in their own lines. Notably, Nopal leather is one of the few plastic-free and vegan leathers used in shoes. Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Cactful sneakers.
Mycoworks
Although not technically a plant, mushrooms have great potential as a bio-based leather. Mycoworks The company produces leather by cultivating mycelium under precise conditions in proprietary trays, controlling the shape and properties of the resulting material, and the brand is known for ReishiFor the Fall/Winter 2021 collection, we used leather from Mycoworks. Hermes Victoria handbag (The handle is made of cowhide.) Hat designer Nick Fouquet Also uses Mycoworks’ Ganoderma lucidum material Farm worker and Mycelium design.
Milo
Bolt Threads produces another leather based on mycelium. MiloIn May 2022, Stella McCartney Flamy Milo Bagthe first luxury bag made from this material. The bag costs around $2,000, so most people will have to wait until the technology trickles down to more affordable brands. Luckily, the wait may not be long. Last summer, Adidas Concept Stan Smith Milo Shoes and Lululemon are on sale Yoga Mat Bag and Duffel Bags Each one incorporates Mylo’s details.
Apple Skin
While Vegatex’s Apple Skin is a step in the right direction, it’s not a true plant-based leather. The material is two-thirds bio-based, with the rest made from polyurethane plastic. The material is made from food waste, but as an organic/plastic composite, it’s not biodegradable or recyclable. Apple Skin is used in products by a New York-based vegan shoe company. Villa Korean fashion brand handbags Mahen J.
Researchers and designers are hard at work developing sustainable vegan leather that will ultimately be better than traditional leather, so the next time you buy a leather bag, hat, wallet or jacket, ask yourself: “Is it made from plants?”
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on October 23, 2022 and updated in September 2024.
