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Why Isn’t Leather Vegan?
May 21, 2020 by Viktoria
What exactly is vegan leather? Read more to find out below!
Vegan leather goes by lots of other names. Faux leather, artificial leather, synthetic leather, and even pleather, all simply mean a leather-like product. That is, a product that looks and feels like leather, without being made from the skin of an animal!
Ultimately, this means that vegan leather isn't technically leather at all. But, we call it leather because it is just as beautiful and functional for creating fantastic fashion items. Today's vegan leathers are so convincing that they are hard to tell from the real thing!
What Vegan Leather Isn't, And Doesn't Want To Be
As attractive and useful as real leather is, there is no escaping the reality that it's production involves animal cruelty. More than a billion cows, pigs, goats, sheep, alligators, ostriches, kangaroos, and even dogs and cats, are killed for their skins every year. Choosing vegan leather instead means opting out of this vicious cycle. If enough of us do it, it will mean the reduction or disappearance of the leather industry all together!
Real leather puts a huge demand on water and land resources, and has a big greenhouse gas footprint. The tanning process pollutes natural waterways, and uses a vast number of nasty chemicals. All of these factors add up to make us say no thanks to leather! Vegan leather might possess the same versatile and aesthetic qualities, but that's where the similarity ends!
What Kinds Of Vegan Leathers Are Out There?
Most vegan leathers are not entirely without their woes. The vast majority of alternative leather products are petroleum based. It's worth noting that different types of plastic based leather have very different environmental impacts! The two major types of vegan leather are PVC and PU. Many synthetic leathers are made from PVC, which is toxic to humans and animals. PU, or polyurethane, is known to be a greener alternative to PVC in both production and aftercare. We'll go into that a little more in a moment!
"We believe promoting an eco-friendly and cruelty free lifestyle truely makes an impact on the world for the better."
How Vegan Leathers Are Made
Most vegan leathers are made by bonding together a plastic coating and a fabric backing. The types of plastic and fabric that are used dictate how eco-friendly the resulting artificial leather really is! This process is entirely different from the way that real leather is made, and doesn't involve any of the same chemicals. Excitingly, more and more non-plastic based leathers are now being developed. Get ready to see plastic-free vegan leathers hitting the market over the new decade ahead of us!
Why Choosing PU Over PVC Is Important
There's a reason why you will never find PVC in Viktoria products. Greenpeace described this type of plastic as the “single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”. That's certainly not OK in our book! So, why is it so bad for the environment? PVC requires plasticizers to make it flexible and soft – like leather. These tend to be nasty chemicals, the worst culprits of which are phthalates. These possess carcinogenic and hormone disrupting qualities that wreak havoc in our homes, and in the natural world.
PVC also contains dioxins, which leach into out environment and do similar damage. Once we are done with PVC, and throw it away, it begins to break down into microplastics. These tiny particles make their way to the sea, and end up in aquatic food chains. Avoiding PVC is vital if we are to preserve and protect all of the beautiful life on earth!
In contrast, PU is a much cleaner composite material. It requires less chemicals to make, and provides fantastic, strong, vegan leather with less layers – so less plastic too. The cherry on top is that PU biodegrades at the end of it's life, thanks to fungi that can be found in the soil and in landfills. This material might still be petroleum based, but it's far more earth friendly to make, and when it decomposes. By making high quality PU products that are crafted to last, we can minimize the impact of leather-like goods, while safeguarding animals as part of a vegan lifestyle!
The Future Of Vegan Leather
Thanks to a collective quest to find better alternatives to leather, the vegan fashion industry is certainly filling up with exciting potential! The latest technology and techniques are allowing the development of vegan leathers that don't use plastic at all. Waste materials like apple peels and pineapple fibers are being used to create incredible vegan leathers. Even mycelium – think mushrooms – is being used to create new leather alternatives! As we strive to clean up our oceans, recycling ocean plastic into vegan leather is also a trend on the rise.
At Viktoria, we can't wait to jump on these innovative ideas. Within the next two years, Viktoria fans can anticipate the arrival of new collections featuring such amazing materials! If you want to join us on our animal friendly journey, become a member of the Viktoria Club. Discover tips and stories that align with your values, and a community of empowered women, from all around the world. Not to mention – of course – gaining access to some exclusive Viktoria Discounts.
We can't wait to welcome you!
For all general inquiries, please contact us at info@viktoriavegan.com
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