Hell for Leather

Photo: Is 15 pairs enough, I ask? (Flickr/PracticalOwl)

Leather is not always simply a bi-product of meat production. Over 1 billion animals are killed every year for their skins. Many of these animals are kept in factory farms for the duration of their lives. But Leather production has not only a huge animal impact, but a human and environmental one too, with toxic chemicals used in the tanning process affecting workers, communities and the environment.

So what are your options for reducing the impact of your shoes, belts and bags on the issues you care about?

Thinking about losing the leather?

If you are concerned about the animal impact of your leather, think about trying leather alternatives like canvas, rubber or  faux leathers such as PVC or PU. PETA suggests you keep your eye out for labels such as “manmade leather,” “all man-made materials”, “pleather” and “synthetic”. As fake leather is often sold at a fraction of the price of normal leather, PETA suggests checking out discount shoe and accessory stores. Ask the sales assistant whether your item is made from leather (brands like Nike have some vegan options) or check out these sites to find non-leather brand alternatives:  VegetarianNetworkVictoria, PETA vegan brands, PETA leather-alternative brands, UnleashedAustralia,The Guardian accessories list, The Guardian Shoes list (Note, some of these sites are international sites and brands may not be easily accessible to Australian buyers).

Issues

• If you are concerned about environmental degradation and you are considering faux leather, it is worth noting that PVC (like leather) requires hazardous chemicals in its production and is not biodegradable. Polyurethane (PU) is a more sustainable option as it is biodegradable (in some circumstances) and does not require the same chemicals in production.
• If you are concerned about workers rights and safety, PETA’s suggestion of sourcing your leather from discount stores may not be the best option for you. They may not necessarily be worker friendly. Look for brands which are both vegan and worker conscious.

Not ready to lose the leather?

1. Keep your eye out for leather brands that are reducing the chemical impact of their tanning processes. Look for brands that use vegetable tanning as opposed to leather tanning.
2. Check out The Leather Working Group; a global group of brands and tanneries aiming to monitor the environmental impact of leather. Brands which have signed up to this group can be found here.
3. Search the website of the brand of leather you are looking into. If they are conscious of their human, environmental or animal impact, it might be mentioned on their site.

Issues

Sustainable leather options do not necessarily reduce the impact of leather production on animals, although some niche brands do avoid factory farming, work with selected known suppliers and have animal welfare policies in place.