Vegan leather: Compassionate to animals, but cruel to nature?

With a plantforward approach vegan products are significantly reducing the harm done to animals in the production of fashion accessories However who is accountable for the ecological cost of vegan products We investigate whether vegan leather is worse for ecology than animal leatherIn the realm of fashion trends can be fleeting like a swift summer breeze Ushering conscious consumption is the practice of lsquoveganismrsquo which demands abandoning all forms of animal products While the fashion industry has embarked heavily on this trend the designers are caught up in the dichotomy of using crueltyfree vs ecotoxic fibres in the making of vegan accessoriesAs the trend unfolds the question arises Are vegan accessories the true tough cookies in the world of durability and sustainability For instance longestablished brands have invariably relied on leather and rubber to design shoes and bags And legitimately so leather has lasted the test of time to be the most durable material in the making of shoes And for bags tooDeviating from the norms to procreate vegan leather are newage labels like PAIO and The CAI store Anita Dongre ZOUK and a handful more Their fresh crops are attempting a sartorial revolution that marries style with an ethical cause Going beyond the allure of veganism Middaycom sponged upon the brains of designers to decode the true endurance and sustainability of socalled lsquocrueltyfreersquo materialsVegan leather ndash A controversy between plastic and plantVegan leather also known as faux leather or synthetic leather is a type of material designed to mimic the look and feel of genuine animal leather without using any animal products It is created using various synthetic materials like Polyurethane PU or plantbased materials like pineapple leaves cork apple peels other fruit wasteShweta Nimkar the founder of Mumbaibased footwear brand PAIO informs Midday ldquoWe have worked with materials such as hemp faux silk jute faux satins coconut leather cork organic cotton in producing our signature shoesrdquo Validating their ethical standards PAIO has been approved by PETA which implies that their vegan products are crueltyfreeWith a plantforward approach vegan products are significantly reducing the harm done to animals in the production of fashionable accessories However who is accountable for the true ecological cost of vegan products The answer to this is a narrative drenched in controversyRanking higher than plantbased alternatives in the making of vegan items is PU which is essentially plastic It is a preferred material in the production of vegan leather as it can closely emulate the texture and appearance of animal leather With versatile customisation options PU allows for a wide range of colors finishes and patterns satisfying diverse fashion needsAnita Dongre recently launched a series of vegan bags and belts in an attempt to dive into sustainability When Midday reached out to the iconic fashion label they chose not to comment on the ecological and endurance aspects of the lsquoconsciousluxuryrsquo productsAradhana Minawala cofounder of the vegan footwear brand CAI admits ldquoWe use polystyrene leather PU suede satin and polyester threads to make our vegan shoesrdquo The durability water resistance and flexibility have made polyester a highlysought after alternative for various applications While it is more lucrative for brands to deploy polyester in the production of vegan accessories its synthetic nature unveils the underlying paradox of vegan leatherThe dark side of vegan leather Unraveling its ecological footprintWhen evaluating the sustainability attributes of vegan leather its crucial to examine its inherent characteristics and the manufacturing process While these materials are marketed as ecofriendly due to their lack of animal cruelty they still come with their own set of challenges Analysts shed light on the ecological footprint of vegan leatherWater UsageThe production of vegan leather often derived from materials like polyurethane and PVC can require significant water usage It takes about roughly 20000 liters of water to produce just 1 kilogram of synthetic leatherThe water usage in producing vegan leather varies based on the manufacturing process and the type of materials used Synthetic materials like polyurethane PU typically require less water during production compared to traditional leather PU vegan leather often involves coating a fabric base with a layer of polyurethane which doesnt inherently demand extensive water usageHowever its important to note that water usage can still occur during the production of the base fabric and the polyurethane coating Additionally alternative materials used in plantbased vegan leather like mushroom mycelium or pineapple leaf fibers may have different water requirements during their cultivation and processing stages Overall while vegan leather generally tends to have lower water usage than animal leather the specific environmental impact can vary based on material choices and production methodsChemical PollutionThe chemical pollution associated with producing vegan leather primarily arises from the manufacturing processes and treatments used to create synthetic materials like polyurethane PU During the production of PU vegan leather chemicals such as solvents adhesives and dyes are commonly employed to coat the fabric base and achieve the desired texture and appearanceIf not managed properly these chemicals can pose environmental risks including air and water pollution Additionally the disposal of chemical byproducts or waste materials generated during production can contribute to pollutionIts worth noting that efforts are being made by manufacturers to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives such as waterbased coatings and lowimpact dyes to mitigate the chemical pollution associated with vegan leather production As with any manufacturing process responsible production practices and adherence to regulatory standards are crucial in minimising the potential negative impacts on the environmentAlso Read Navigate the rainy season in style with these monsoon fashion tips