Is Natural Vegan Leather Eco-Friendly?

Natural Vegan Leather Women’s Clothing

There are many vegan leather alternatives on the market, but not all are created equally. With more and more people opting not to purchase clothing, shoes, accessories, or other items made of real leather, companies and their manufacturers are finding new ways to give the look and feel of leather using vegan materials. However, is vegan leather real leather? While few options have been available in the past, we’re now seeing vegan leather from the runways to big box stores and everywhere in between.

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Vegan Leather Jacket with Removable Hood

What is Vegan Leather? 

Is vegan leather real leather? To put it simply, vegan leather is a synthetic material resembling leather. Real leather is made from the hides of livestock animals, vegan leather does not use animal products in the materials or manufacturing process. There are many materials and processes that can be used to create vegan leather goods including handbags, jackets, boots, and some are more eco-friendly than others.

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Vegan vs Real Leather

Vegan Leather Crossbody Handbag

When comparing real vs. vegan leather, there are several factors to take into consideration. Cost, durability, aesthetic, personal beliefs, and eco-friendliness are just a few of those factors. With so many vegan leather alternatives available, one benefit of choosing faux leather is there are options available in nearly any price point. While the cost will vary depending on materials used and the time required to manufacture products, vegan leather substitutes can range from small budget friendly to luxury priced.

Leather is known for being durable and holding up well over time, even with regular wear. Vegan leather substitutes tend to be thinner, more light weight, and generally less durable than a real leather product. That said, manufacturers are always evolving in terms of the materials used and how products are made, making vegan alternatives stronger and longer lasting. In the past, faux leather had a reputation for looking cheap and low quality. Fortunately, as the trend toward vegan leather alternatives has increased, the look and feel of the materials have improved. Some vegan alternatives can be designed to look like their real leather counterparts. Others may not look like traditional leather but have a distinct look that some prefer.

Lastly are ersonal beliefs, including concerns about animal cruelty and about the impact of creating both leather and faux leather goods on the environment. For those making the choice to switch to vegan leather because of animal rights issues, vegan leather options are an obvious choice. For those looking for environmentally friendly options, some alternatives are better than others. While some of the first man-made materials used to replace leather have included potentially harmful chemicals, new materials are being developed into more viable solutions for recreating the look, feel, and durability of real leather.

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Vegan Leather Substitutes

There are many vegan leather substitutes on the market. The type of material used will vary depending on what the vegan leather is being used for, what the price point of the finished product will be, and how eco-friendly the company creating the product intends to be.

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Vegan Leather Backpack

PVC

PVC was once a popular option for manufacturers looking for a vegan leather alternative. Since then, there have been growing concerns about how creating products with PVC affects the environment as well as the effects on the health of those who use them. PVC uses plasticizers, like phthalates, which are used to make the material flexible. Many phthalates have been under scrutiny, and some banned altogether, due to research showing that the toxic substances can leach out of the material.

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Polyurethane

Polyurethane was once a popular choice, especially among fast fashion brands, because price points could be kept minimal and the material could be manipulated to look similar to real leather. Polyurethane is also relatively durable in comparison to other materials; however, it can crack over time. The easy maintenance of polyurethane has also made it a popular material for creating faux leather furniture. The surface can be wiped clean for easy care. 

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Lorica

iPhone Vegan Leather Wallet Phone Case

Lorica was created as a synthetic fabric to be used as a vegan alternative to real leather. The fabric is relatively new, but has the potential to be a widely used, all natural substitute. The fabric is made by combining ultra thin microfibers and soaking the fibers in resin, resulting in a material that looks very similar to leather. The man made material can be colored, printed on, and stitched, allowing it to be used in a wide variety of products.

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Waxed Canvas 

Waxed canvas is one of the oldest leather alternatives, and one that is still popular among designers and manufacturers today. The material has traditionally been used to create pants and travel bags but uses for waxed canvas have grown as designers have found that material is very pliable, allowing it to be used for a wide range of products. So is vegan leather real leather? Like many other vegan leather alternatives, waxed canvas is much easier to clean than real leather and requires much less maintenance for keeping items clean and looking brand new.

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Cork

Vegan Leather Designer Jacket

There are many benefits to choosing cork as a vegan leather alternative, especially when it comes to creating bags, wallets, phone cases and other small goods that are normally made of leather. First, the material is extremely lightweight, making it an excellent option for commuting or traveling longer distances. Cork is also naturally water resistant, along with being durable enough to stand up to daily wear. Finally, cork offers a unique look and feel that can allow each piece made with the material to be completely unique. Cork is 100% natural and vegan.

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Muskin

This is a form of vegetable based faux leather that is relatively new but growing in popularity. The material is made from mushrooms, one of the latest trends in vegan leather. By using an all natural material to create this alternative fabric, manufacturers can be sure that the product is non-toxic and chemical free. Unlike materials like PVC, muskin is breathable and even helps to minimize bacterial, making it an excellent option for shoes. While the material isn’t waterproof, it can be treated to create waterproofed products.

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Pineapple 

While this may sound like one of the more off the wall options for a vegan leather alternative, pineapple has become the material for choice for some textile makers. Spanish businesswoman Carmen Hijosa created Piñatex, according to a Reuters report. The textile is made by weaving together the fibers from pineapple leaves. This is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly options for vegan leather, and one that Hijosa spent years developing. Piñatex has been used by designers like Hugo Boss, along with smaller manufacturers, hand making custom items from the material.

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Vegan Leather Flower Design Jacket

What About Recycled Leather?

While many consumers will choose not to wear any form of real leather, including recycled leather, this alternative is a sustainable solution for those who object to leather for environmental reasons. The process of using recycled leather to make new goods starts with collecting leather fibers from products that would otherwise go to waste. The fibers are combined with latex and a binding agent to create a new material. Choosing recycled leather can help prevent used items from going to a landfill, making it a more eco-friendly option.

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Vegan Leather An Eco-Friendly Natural Alternative To Real Leather

While some vegan leather options are not perfect, the options listed above show that progress is being made in finding vegan, natural, and environmentally friendly alternatives to real leather. Over time, the processes for turning these organic materials into materials that will become more durable and affordable, while offering the look and feel that consumers are looking for.

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Lisa Czachowski is a professional social blogger and has worked on several online publications including Citrus Sleep. Lisa is an experienced content writer and copyeditor. You will find many of her works throughout CitrusSleep.com that cover a wide array of subjects including sustainability, natural, sleep products, health, fashion and many more. She is passionate about what providing as much information as possible on products you bring in your home and what we wear.

Follow Lisa at Lisa Czachowski

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