What do luxury brands like Tesla, BMW, Hermes, and Tommy Hilfiger have in common? They all have vegan diets. Okay not actually, but they have ditched animal leather to a more sustainable and cruelty-free material – vegan leather.
What is vegan leather?
With giants in the industry acknowledging the detrimental affects animal leather has on the future of our environment, industry leaders sought fro better alternatives. Vegan leather has become an increasingly popular alternative over the years. It is a material made from polyurethane, a polymer that is made to order, or from sustainable materials like recyclable plastic, fruit waste, pineapple, or cactus. Even within the realm of vegan leather, advancements have been made.
Where did vegan leather emerge from?
In the 19th century, animal leather was being rationed so Germans developed an alternative.
In 1920, the U.S. Rubber Company created Naugahyde, a synthetic leather that gained international exposure.
In 2010, the term synthetic leather turned into vegan leather
From synthetic to vegan
When vegan leather was first created, it was not as sustainable as it is today. It fell under a synthetic leather category. This means it would be made by combining various chemicals and fossil fuels in an industrial process. So while vegan leather eliminates any animal cruelty, it was still affecting the carbon footprint the fashion industry has.
“The environmental impact of replacing a fake leather product multiple times is arguably more damaging than the purchase of one real leather item. “
Shep, 2017
However, Adrian and Marte are just two people who changed the game for the vegan leather industry. They made it a priority to rid of plastic use in vegan leather. With the help of cacti leaves, they were able to accomplish their goals for the environment.
Cacti are green, and so is our future
“Whilst the size of the global vegan fashion market is nearly at 337 billion US dollars, by 2027 experts are estimating it will have increased to 1,095 billion dollars, as fashion companies are increasingly looking for animal-free alternatives to leather and suede.”
Representative from wethrift
By using cacti and plant based materials, vegan leather is now biodegradable and cruelty free. PETA, also known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, shared that there is less loads of energy and toxins used in the manufacturing process of plastic-free vegan leather.
Vogue Business shared that the term “vegan leather” increased by 69% in searches on platforms like Lyst; on the contrary, the search for “leather” decreased by 3.5%.
Driving the change
Without leading luxury brands, this alternative would not be able to take off as well as it did. Specifically, the car industry has moved in a more sustainable direction by introducing vegan leather car seats.
Musk decided to make this change for Tesla as early as 2016. Starting in 2019, the models have become fully leather free, using vegan leather for the whole interior. Tesla took their announcement to twitter with an engaging video promotion.
Consumers are grateful for Tesla’s decision and the impact it has made on the car industry. A Tiktok explained in a satirical way why you should not buy a Tesla but mentions all of the perks there are.
BMW just announced this September that they are following in Tesla’s footsteps to go fully vegan in BMW and MINI model interiors. They are choosing to go forward with cactus leather because it is biodegradable and does not use any plastic. To pull this off, Natural Fiber Welding, Inc. is working with BMW to scale for commercial production and keep up with the demands.
Other luxury brands
Accessory luxury brands are also making the shift into vegan leather. Hermes manufactured their Victoria purse using vegan leather – specifically mushroom leather. There has been enough research provided to infer that mushrooms are carbon neutral and biodegradable.
Tommy Hilfiger banned the use of exotic leather for their goods. In their 2020 shoe collection, they launched sneakers that were made from apple peel fibers which ended up being high-quality leather. This was a collaboration with Frumat, an Italian start-up, showing that this has an international impact.
Where could this be headed?
Vegan leather contributes to a better future for our environment. Some find that disadvantages include that it may not smell like the normal leather or lacks the quality animal leather provides. However, it is difficulty to over look the fact that it is completely animal cruelty free and advancements have made this material biodegradable. Vegan leather may also be more expensive than animal leather because of the biodegradable materials used in the process.
The market for plant-based vegan leather is looking up. The Good Trade shared that predications show that “the industry is predicted to be worth $89 billion by 2025”
Killing for killer looks is a thing of the past and industry leaders should be looking to be more sustainable and ethical in their manufacturing choices.
References
All You Need To Know About Vegan Leather. (2017, March 10). Retrieved from https://mahileather.com/blogs/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-vegan-leather
Buxton, A. (2022, September 14). BMW Puts The Brakes On Leather Interiors With Vegan Options Confirmed For 2023. Retrieved from https://plantbasednews.org/news/economics/bmw-vegan-leather-interiors/
Cernansky, R. (2021, May 20). Leather: Sustainable fashion’s big debate. Retrieved from https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/leather-sustainable-fashions-big-debate
Desserto: Cactus Vegan Leather. (2020, February 18). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/x4sGOYbHoXo
Lambert, F. (2016, December 14). Tesla now offers a vegan interior option and next gen premium in-house seats in all its models. Retrieved from https://electrek.co/2016/12/14/tesla-vegan-interior-option-ultra-white-seats/
Tesla on TikTok. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tiktok.com/@stopteslashaming/video/7058000855856860421?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7152665497753634347
Thomas, L. (2022, February 16). Is Vegan Leather A More Sustainable Option? The Answer Is Complicated. Retrieved from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/vegan-leather-vs-animal-leather
Tree Tribe. (n.d.). What is Vegan Leather? All You Need to Know Before You Buy. Retrieved from https://treetribe.com/blogs/tree-tribe-vibe/what-is-vegan-leather
Vegan Food Diet Icon Organic Bio Stock Vector (Royalty Free) 1542566375. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/vegan-food-diet-icon-organic-bio-1542566375
Vegan Leather: What It Is and Why It Belongs in Your Closet. (2022, May 19). Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/what-is-vegan-leather/
Watson & Wolfe. (2022, October 09). All You Need To Know About Vegan Cactus Leather. Retrieved from https://www.watsonwolfe.com/2020/07/13/vegan-leather-made-with-cactus-leaves/
Writer, S., & Staff Writer Sustainability. (2021, April 05). More global fashion brands are turning to mushroom leather. Retrieved from https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/style/fashion/mushroom-leather-vegan-2/
Gabriella Marinelli 