Shoes, wallets and even vegan cars

Conscious consumers of the protection of the environment do not only care about what they eat. Some begin to put aside clothing and other products made from animal skins and opt for synthetic and natural alternatives. Overall, this is called vegan leather. same You're here of Elon Musk will offer a car "completely vegan". These alternatives to leather are usually cheaper. The question for consumers is: are they better for the planet?

1. What is vegan leather?

What looks like an oxymoron refers mainly to synthetic products. Instead of cowhide or sheep skin, most vegan leathers are Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) based on plastic. However, there is also an innovative variety of natural products, such as those derived from cork, tree bark, pineapple leaves or apple peel. Manufacturers of high quality alternatives say that they look identical to the real ones, although vegan leather does not improve with age, unlike animal leather.

2. Why do people buy it?

Obtaining a similar product that avoids causing suffering to animals has become a stronger attraction, especially for young people from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales of meat substitutes exploded in part due to environmental concerns related to actual meat (although health issues as well) and investors, including co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, have invested their money in the development of such products.

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3. Is the demand for vegan leather important?

It seems so, especially in the United States. Online availability of vegan leather products has more than doubled in the United Kingdom and increased by 54% in the United States. between the first half of 2018 and the same period of this year, according to research firm in the retail sector WGSN Instock. The demand is particularly strong in the shoe industry, more and more Americans wishing to cover their feet with slippers without animal products. The automotive industry is also moving from real leather to artificial leather after Tesla was urged to become vegan by interested parties. Use in the footwear and automotive industries is expected to bring global demand for synthetic leather to 7% annual growth, reaching US $ 45,000 million by 2025, according to Grand View research. In 2018, global sales of traditional leather were estimated at 95.4 billion US dollars.

4. Is vegan leather cheaper?

Plastic-based alternatives are generally. They are also easier to maintain, which explains the interest of car manufacturers. However, vegan leather made from organic materials such as pineapple leaves tends to cost more than plastic, although it is cheaper than traditional leather. Sustainability should also be considered. Vegan leather is much thinner than genuine leather, which can last for years.

5. Is synthetic skin better for the planet?

Plastics can hardly be considered environmentally friendly. The most commonly used PVC releases dioxins, which can be dangerous in confined spaces and especially when burned. However, organic vegan skins such as pineapple (made from pineapple leaves) and apeel (made from apple peel) can be converted to fertilizer or as a whole. biogas. The environmental credentials of genuine leather are contaminated by the use of toxic chemicals in the tanning process. In addition, cows are the main emitters of greenhouse gases and require large amounts of food, land and water. On the other hand, synthetic leather often uses oil at some point in its manufacture, while one could say that traditional leather is only a sub. -produced from the production of dairy products and meat that would otherwise be wasted.

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6. Is not fake leather supposed to exist for years?

Yes, but the natural versions are relatively new and attractive for a new type of consumer that reduces meat consumption and its environmental footprint. At the same time, textile companies that make costumes for every budget are committed to making fashion more sustainable. This enhances the attractiveness of natural leather substitutes, in addition to recycled plastic and more refined plastic derivatives, such as water-based and solvent-free polyurethanes, which are safer for people who work with them. Piñatex is made from the waste of the pineapple industry: the leaves. The fibers are extracted, felted and processed without the use of chemicals and heavy metals, although non-biodegradable petroleum resins and polylactic or bioplastic acids are used.

7. What about real leather?

The boredom of some consumers comes at a time when the record demand for American beef has increased the supply of animal skins. This means that many products will be wasted and some will even end up in landfills, a situation that many in the industry considered "unimaginable". On the other hand, it's a waste-prone industry because many skins are not used because of imperfections.