The Myth About Vegan Leather

Portugal has banned the use of the term ‘Vegan leather’ and other fancy leather prefixes in marketing because they are technically wrong and are misleading to the consumer. Back in 1920s, Faux Leather or Pleather was invented as a cheap imitation of real leather. This leather is usually Polyurethane (PU) or PVC Leather, which is non-biodegradable and harmful for the environment. But recently, clothing and furniture manufacturers started using the term "Vegan Leather” for faux leather. Vegan leather claims to be an eco-friendly, cruelty-free alternative to the animal hide fabric. Although faux leather does not create demand for animal hide, it creates a demand for synthetic polymers, the production of these materials emit harmful even toxic gases. Even though leather will never be an animal-friendly product but it comes from animals raised for their meat. Real leather is usually condemned for the environmental impact of the tanning process, but leather can be eco-friendly. At Leather Plus, we use processes which cut down the harmful effect on the environment and help producing sustainable fashion. While considering leather sustainability we ensure the use of reusable and recycled materials, energy efficient Italian plant and machinery, clean and waste controlled processes, and offer Nickel free hardware. Over our 30 years of experience we have only worked with LWG certified tanneries and continue to do so. We are committed to working towards a world without harmful chemicals and non-biodegradable materials. Unlike regular manufacturing practices, we use only biodegradable materials and naturally derived substances to produce and pack our goods.