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Top Benefits Of Vegan Fashion: Saving The Earth With What We Wear
May 21, 2020 by Viktoria
There are a lot of vegan leather products out there. Do you know which ones are the most environmentally friendly? Find out below...
For those of us who care passionately about not causing harm to animals, making vegan consumer choices is only a part of what truly matters to us. We also want to know that the choices we make safe guard the environment. We want them to make a minimal impact on the natural world, while allowing us to express our own unique style!
There are lots of vegan leather products out there, but how do we know which is the most ethical choice? Here, we will walk through the difference between the two most common types of vegan leather – PVC and PU. Plus, we'll help you choose great vegan leather products with confidence!
What Are Sythetic Vegan Leathers?
Do you know that vegan leather, or “faux” leather, or “pleather” as it's sometimes known, isn't really leather at all? It is actually a cleverly constructed imitation of leather. Animals don't need to be harmed for their hides in the name of fashion when products are made from these materials. Synthetic leathers are made by bonding a plastic coating with a fabric backing to make a material that looks and feels like real leather. This process has been around for quite a while, but the quality, realism, and efficiency of production is constantly improving. That is, if you know what to look for!
Of course, plastics are petroleum based, which means we want to use them cautiously. It's great that they are made without the exploitation of animals. However, there are other environmental factors that we should think about when we buy goods made from these materials. This also means that the production methods, biodegradability, and durability are extra important. This is why choosing beautifully crafted PU vegan leather products over those made from PVC vegan leather is a far more ethical choice. Let's explore what makes the difference.
"We avoid PVC at all costs. We proudly manufacture 100% Synthetic Polyurethane (PU) Vegan Leather for all of our handbags to support vegan fashion, pro-environment, and cruelty-free lifestyles."
How is PVC Vegan Leather Made?
PVC is used to make the majority of vegan leather products, while being the cheapest synthetic leather to produce. The process that is used to create PVC – short for Polyvinyl Chloride – involves chemically altering vinyl. This means adding chemical plasticizers and fillers to make vinyl more pliable, and change the texture, color and feel. While PVC is vegan, it's production is not very eco-friendly, and when it gets old and begins to break down, the story gets even worse.
Making PVC releases dioxins, which are known to be highly damaging to nature, animals, and us. These compounds can disrupt hormones, interfere with development and the immune system, and even cause cancer. They often contain phthalates, which are another type of cancer-causing chemical – which is no good at all!
Once PVC products get old and tired, they are very difficult to recycle. While real leather takes around 50 years to decompose, PVC will take a scary 500 years, or even longer. What's more, when it does decompose it still won't be done causing harm. This type of plastic breaks down into tiny microscopic little bits of plastic which wash into our water ways and oceans. Thankfully, not all plastics are created equal!
What Makes PU Vegan Leather A Better Choice?
PU vegan leather is another type of synthetic leather that you are more likely to see labeled as “vegan leather” specifically. This is because it's production, and end of life, are far less damaging to the environment! PU, or Polyurethane, is also made using a mixture of chemicals and plastics. The process to make it doesn't require plasticizers or rely on such cancer-causing compounds.
PU requires less layers, and therefore less plastic, to make. This material is more pliable so creates a much more realistic leather alternative! It's more expensive to make, but still much cheaper than real leather – we think that extra cost is well worth the investment! PU is chemically inert, which means it doesn't leach nasty materials into the environment. When it reaches the end of it's life, it doesn't break down into microplastics. Instead, it biodegrades naturally thanks to fungi found in the soil, and in landfills. Now, that's a much better way to create vegan leather!
Protecting Water Ways And The Ocean
When PVC breaks down in to tiny bits of plastic, and they make their way into the planet's water systems, all sorts of problems occur. Aquatic animals eat these microplastics and they end up in food-chains. This can cause undernourishment, and for animals to absorb chemical pollutants into their systems, which is certainly not OK. Scientists have even found microplastics in our drinking water – so even those following a vegan diet are not immune to this damaging and scary form of human pollution!
Choosing High Quality Vegan Leather Goods To Protect The Planet
All this adds up to PU being a much better choice when it comes to limiting damage to the environment. We can also make our vegan leather purchases even more eco-friendly by buying vegan leather products that are great quality, and taking care of the things we love! When we buy a vegan leather handbag or wallet that was built to last, it means we can consume less plastic, while protecting the animal kingdom in several different ways. By choosing fabulous PU products, we make the most ethical synthetic leather our fashion statement of choice. This is what the Viktoria brand is all about – empowering incredible women to express themselves with better and more sustainable products.
Let your look align with your values, and join women all around the world who love putting nature first!
For all general inquiries, please contact us at info@viktoriavegan.com
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