Vegan leather: what alternatives are there to animal leather?
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Every year, 1.4 billion cow, sheep and goat skins are transformed into leather. A co-product of the food chain, the skins undergo between 25 and 30 operations to be transformed into strong, waterproof and resistant leather. A source of global pollution, particularly in developing countries, there are several alternatives to replace this material with sought-after qualities. Vegan leather is one of them. Let's discover the different alternatives to animal leather. |
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Vegan leather: several possible alternatives to animal leather
1 - Cork leather
Cork leather is a good substitute for animal leather. This material is taken directly from trees (usually cork oak), from which you only need to remove the bark. It also has several advantages due to its ecological properties.
In fact, cork helps absorb CO2, and its regular extraction promotes the natural regeneration of cork oaks, the trees from which it comes.
Finally, cork helps preserve biodiversity. Beyond its environmental benefits, cork leather is an aesthetic material that is very popular. Cork is also known for being very strong, elastic, lightweight and compressible. The cherry on the cake is that it is hypoallergenic.
I discover the selection of cork leather bags
2 - Apple leather
Apple leather is made from apple peels mixed with polyurethane, a resin. Completely biodegradable, apple leather is vegan: it does not contain any animal material and its manufacture does not involve any testing on animals. Today, you can find a wide variety of vegan backpack models made from apple leather. This material has the advantage of being malleable (from rigid to very flexible), and can be used to create several effects: rough, silky, etc.
Finally, apple leather limits food waste and gives a second life to organic waste. And it is used in many areas such as toys, packaging, accessories, clothing and jewelry.
I discover the selection of apple leather bags
3 - Vegan pineapple leather
Pineapple leather is another alternative to animal leather made possible by the use of fruit. Designed in the Philippines and inspired by traditional Barong Tagalog shirts, this material is made from pineapple leaves. In total, 480 leaves are needed to make one square meter of pineapple leather. However, this actually represents only sixteen pineapples.
Pineapple leather is therefore an interesting alternative to animal leather on an ecological level, but also on a social level. Indeed, the manufacture of this material allows small local producers to benefit from an additional source of income, especially since the manufacture of pineapple leather uses the inedible part of the fruit. As for its price, it is lower than that of leather, which makes each product, like a vegan backpack, accessible to all.
4 - Mushroom leather
Mushroom leather is an innovative alternative to animal leather. Environmentally friendly, it is durable, flexible and very resistant. It is made from 100% mushrooms and is therefore 100% vegan.
As a natural product, its production is low in water and energy. Some companies use the mushroom cap (Phellinus ellipsoideus) to make leather, while others use the roots (mycelium of "Ganoderma lucidum" and "Pleurotus ostreatus"). Mushroom leather can be any size, unlike animal leather, which is limited by the size of the animal.
In addition, as it naturally contains penicillin, the mushroom limits bacterial proliferation and bad odors: it does not need to be treated. The mushroom thus makes it possible to create a quality and durable vegan leather bag.
5 - Eucalyptus leather
Made from eucalyptus, eucalyptus leather was created in 2014 by Fabian Stadler, a German entrepreneur. It is therefore in Germany that this product was born. It is a natural and sustainable alternative, which offers great resistance and a very comfortable lifespan to the products it composes. It can be used to make vegan handbags or backpacks.
Eucalyptus fibers are generally GMO and pesticide free. Likewise, the plant requires little water to grow and relatively little energy. Local production, the absence of animal materials, and sustainable short-circuit forestry make eucalyptus leather an alternative to animal leather.
6 - Vegetable leather
Vegetable leather is an animal leather. In fact, the term "vegetable" refers to the method of tanning the leather. We have intentionally included it in this list because it is misleading, since vegetable leather can be mistaken for vegan leather. And the difference is there: vegan leather does not contain any animal material, while vegetable leather is an animal leather that is tanned with vegetable tannins.
Traditionally, animal leather is tanned with mineral tannins and metals such as iron, chromium, aluminum, etc., which factories then release into nature. Conversely, vegetable leather is tanned with vegetable tannins such as sumac, coffee, mimosa or oak. The tanning method is therefore much more respectful of biodiversity and nature.
7 - Faux leather
Faux leather is a material that imitates leather: it is therefore artificial leather, made from plastic materials. It is sometimes also called "fake leather". Increasingly resembling animal leather, faux leather represents a less expensive alternative to this animal material.
To manufacture it, a complex industrial process and a chemical protocol are involved. It is therefore not the most natural or environmentally friendly alternative to animal leather. Its manufacture requires several steps, involving chemicals and resource-intensive industrial processes.
Other alternatives to animal leather
Other alternatives to animal leather are emerging, such as eco-leathers, developed in the laboratory by researchers. They are made from plant fibers such as cotton or linen, which are then mixed with soy, corn or vegetable oils. Here, we can for example cite kombucha leather!
Today, there are many alternatives to animal leather for making products of all kinds, such as a vegan leather bag. Apple, pineapple, mushrooms, eucalyptus... Plant materials are popular with consumers, certainly for their originality, but also for the good of the planet!
