Veganes Leder - eine Lüge der Fashionindustrie?
Vegan or not vegan? The discussion about a life free of animal products is more relevant than ever. How sensible is a vegan life really? Is vegan healthy, environmentally friendly, climate-friendly - THE answer to all questions? Vegan sausages, vegan milk, vegan leather - people are looking for vegan alternatives everywhere.
First of all, it is very gratifying that so many people are concerned with the question of a more conscious life and animal- and environmentally-friendly consumption. But what is vegan leather actually? Is vegan leather more sustainable? Does vegan leather even exist? And if so, what is vegan leather made of?
DOES VEGAN LEATHER EVEN EXIST?
The honest answer is no. Just as a steak will always be a steak, leather will always be leather and that is simply not vegan. Leather has inimitable tactile, optical and technical properties. The more appropriate term for what is known today as "vegan leather" would be artificial leather or imitation leather . This refers to materials that - as the name suggests - try to imitate the positive properties of leather without using animal products. But be careful! The term "vegan leather" does not necessarily mean that it is produced in an environmentally and animal-friendly way!
On the one hand, non-vegan adhesives are often used, and the plastic mixtures themselves also contain a lot of environmentally harmful plasticizers to give the originally hard and brittle plastic leather-like properties. Imitation leather made from natural materials usually requires a stabilizing, synthetic carrier material to guarantee sufficient strength and resistance of the material.
SALES GUARANTEE VEGAN LEATHER
The fast fashion industry in particular likes to misuse the term vegan leather to create the impression that you can buy a new bag for 9.99 euros with a clear conscience. If the trendy item ends up in the trash two months later - so what! After all, it was vegan. Consumers are deliberately misled by the advertising term "vegan leather". Since the term is not protected and simply means that it is not an animal product, its significance is extremely questionable.
Vegan = good? Unfortunately, it is not that easy to save the world and, as always, it is worth taking a closer look. If you value vegan or organic products, you unfortunately have no choice but to do your research.
Vegan does not mean sustainable
High-quality leather alternatives are expensive to produce and, just like a high-quality leather product, have their price. But just because a product does not use animal products, that does not mean that it is automatically sustainable and returns to the natural cycle after use. "Vegan leather" is often polyurethane or other synthetics, i.e. petroleum-based plastics. Like PVC, polyurethane is a plastic that is not recyclable and releases toxins during production. So-called apple leather, for example, is made of half apple waste and half polyurethane.
Biodegradable does not mean compostable
A relatively new leather alternative is pineapple leather, also known as Piñatex. The raw material used for production is pineapple leaves, a waste product from the food industry. So far, so good. However, this vegetable leather also contains petroleum and polylactide. PLA is a biodegradable plastic made from natural raw materials. The so-called Pinatex is therefore not a purely eco-product and can only be broken down under strictly controlled, industrial composting conditions.
So be careful: Biodegradable does not mean that you can simply dispose of your vegan pineapple leather bag in your home compost once you no longer like it! Nevertheless, Piñatex is certainly a better leather alternative than cheap PVC bags, which are also sold as "vegan leather bags" in stores.
EDUCATION IS EVERYTHING!
How to properly define vegan leather
While "milk" has now been protected as a term and only the animal product can be called milk, the courts have unfortunately so far ruled against protecting the term "leather". "Vegan leather" only describes that the material in question is not an animal product. Consumers still have to find out for themselves what exactly is behind the material. We'll give you a brief overview:
Eucalyptus leather = 25% eucalyptus leaves + 74% PVC
Apple leather/grape leather = pomace (residues from juice extraction) + polyurethane
Rhubarb leather = genuine leather tanned with rhubarb
Pineapple leather/Piñatex = pineapple leaves + polylacid
Mushroom leather/Trama = fiber material from tinder fungus
Consistency is sustainability
For those who choose a vegan lifestyle, imitation leather such as Piñatex or Trama are viable alternatives. In terms of quality and stability, however, these materials are nowhere near as good as leather. We must not forget: the sustainability of a product is not only determined by what it is made of, but also by how durable it is and how long you can and want to use it. High-quality, classic and durable leather products are therefore often the most sustainable solution. When buying your leather products, pay attention to the manufacturing processes. A naturally tanned leather bag, for example, is sustainable in production, biodegradable and durable.
Think carefully about whether you will still like the product in five to ten years and buy high-quality items that will accompany you for many years, perhaps decades.
A well-made leather wallet lasts up to 15 years on average. You can also use BRAUN BÜFFEL's lifelong repair service to enjoy your favorite leather item for even longer.
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