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| Is this where vegan leather comes from? |
One label in particular has become a marketing darling... “vegan leather.” It sounds ethical, modern, and environmentally responsible. But scratch the surface and a less comfortable truth emerges.
What is “vegan leather,” really?
In most cases, vegan leather isn’t a clever plant-based breakthrough. It’s plastic, usually polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These are fossil-fuel-derived materials that don’t biodegrade and can shed microplastics throughout their life cycle.
Yes, they avoid animal hides. But avoiding animals doesn’t automatically make a product environmentally friendly.
Why the term feels misleading
The problem isn’t that alternatives to animal leather exist — they should. The issue is how they’re presented.
Calling plastic bags, shoes, or jackets “vegan leather” allows brands to:
Wrap synthetic materials in ethical language
Lean on the growing interest in vegan and cruelty-free lifestyles
Imply environmental virtue without addressing plastic use
At a time when consumers are urged to cut down on single-use plastics, refill containers, and choose natural fibres, this feels like a bait-and-switch.
Eco-friendly… compared to what?
Much of this advertising relies on relative claims:
“More sustainable than leather”
“A conscious alternative”
“Animal-free and ethical”
But relative to what, exactly?
If a “vegan leather” tote is:
Made from virgin plastic
Manufactured overseas
Designed to last only a season or two
…then its overall environmental footprint may be worse than a well-made leather item that lasts decades and can be repaired.
Durability matters. Longevity matters. End-of-life disposal matters. These rarely make it into the marketing copy.
The plastic problem we’re not talking about
Plastics marketed as fashion materials don’t magically escape the environmental issues we associate with packaging:
They don’t biodegrade
They can shed microplastics into water systems
Recycling options are limited or non-existent for mixed materials
Yet the same material, when shaped into a handbag rather than a carrier bag, suddenly becomes “eco”.
That’s not progress — that’s rebranding.
Are there better alternatives?
Yes — but they’re often drowned out by louder, cheaper options.
Some genuinely innovative materials include:
Apple or grape waste composites
Natural rubber
Waxed cotton or heavy canvas
Recycled fibres (when transparently labelled and responsibly sourced)
These aren’t perfect, but they’re usually more honest about trade-offs and don’t rely on greenwashed language.
Why clearer rules are needed
Terms like “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, and “vegan leather” are still poorly regulated in advertising. That leaves consumers to decode vague claims while trying to do the right thing.
Clearer labelling could include:
The actual material composition
Whether plastics are virgin or recycled
Expected product lifespan
End-of-life guidance (repair, recycle, dispose
Without this, shoppers are left making ethical decisions with incomplete information.
Choosing better, not just “greener”
This isn’t an argument for or against leather, veganism, or fashion choices. It’s a call for honesty.
If a product is plastic, say so.
If it’s animal-free but not biodegradable, say so.
If it’s trendy but short-lived, don’t dress it up as planet-saving.
True sustainability isn’t about catchy labels — it’s about materials, durability, transparency, and accountability. Until advertising reflects that, consumers will keep paying a premium for products that sound green but behave very differently once they leave the shop.
Sometimes the most eco-friendly choice isn’t the one with the loudest claim, it’s the one that simply lasts.
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