Wie nachhaltig sind Ledertaschen?
Which is more sustainable, a real leather bag or a vegan product made of synthetic leather? This question is not that easy to answer. While vegan handbags, wallets and the like are of course guaranteed to respect animal rights, their ecological footprint is not always better than that of accessories made of real leather. As a biodegradable natural product, they not only score points when it comes to disposal. With the right care, they also last many times longer than their alternatives. To ensure a positive ecological footprint, it is worth taking a close look at the origin, the supply chain and the entire subsequent production process - companies that operate sustainably usually disclose this. Here you can find out which criteria you should consider to ensure that your leather handbag is really sustainable.
The vegan lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular in many areas of life in the interests of environmental protection: meat consumption is falling and plant-based products are in high demand. Nevertheless, for certain products it makes sense to rely on durable parts of animal origin rather than plastic products - as long as these do not cause unnecessary animal suffering and are environmentally friendly during processing. Leather bags are durable and, with their characteristic appearance, have great potential to be lifelong companions. We will tell you which criteria make a real leather bag truly sustainable and what you should look out for when buying one.
WHEN IS A LEATHER BAG SUSTAINABLE?
In contrast to many types of artificial leather, natural genuine leather is not only recyclable, but also biodegradable. This eliminates the problem of microplastics, which can arise as abrasion from plastic products, in addition to the problematic disposal. The long durability of well-processed leather is another aspect that makes genuine leather a sustainable alternative for bags. Business bags, for example, tend to become favorites for a lifetime. Many people are reluctant to part with a briefcase or laptop bag that they receive as a gift for an exam, for example. Handbags for everyday use can also be used for many years if they have a classic design and their look does not follow the rapid changes in fashion trends. Proper care is also essential for long durability: It is particularly important to use the right leather care product depending on the type of leather and use in order to prevent signs of wear, discoloration and brittleness.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A LEATHER BAG?
The production of leather goods consists of several phases, which can have different environmental impacts. It is important to consider various aspects and take a close look at the information provided by the manufacturers:
ETHICS: ANIMAL WELFARE & SOCIAL STANDARDS
Sustainable leather production begins with animal husbandry that is appropriate to the species. It should also be ensured that only animal hides that are left over from the food industry are processed. To ensure that the entire production chain is based on sustainable standards during further processing, preference should be given to manufacturers who place value on the highest possible social responsibility and good working conditions. Transparency is paramount to ensure that suppliers also comply with hygiene requirements and create good working conditions for everyone involved.
CAREFUL USE OF RESOURCES
In general, genuine leather is characterized by its versatile uses: Leather scraps that are left over from cutting bags can be used for small leather goods such as wallets, for example, in order to minimize unnecessary waste. Another aspect that can have a negative impact on the ecological balance, especially when tanning animal hides to make leather, is the high water consumption. Environmentally conscious leather goods manufacturers therefore use modern processes to recycle water so that as little of it as possible is used.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TANNING
In order for animal skin to become leather as we know it, it must be tanned. Vegetable, mineral or chemical tanning agents are used for this. This makes the leather durable and prevents rotting. The most common process is mineral chrome tanning, which, contrary to its reputation, can often be more environmentally friendly than vegetable tanning. To ensure that the end product is not contaminated with pollutants, it must be ensured during production that the formation of harmful chromium VI is avoided - here too, a transparent manufacturing process is a priority. Vegetable tanning uses natural products instead of minerals and chemicals. Here you can be sure that no synthetic pollutants remain in the leather bag - but vegetable preservation uses a lot of energy to achieve the soft texture and UV resistance. Whether vegetable or chrome tanning: if you want to play it safe when it comes to sustainability, it is best to invest in leather products from Germany.
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