In this day and age, it's natural, if not expected, to be making planet conscious choices. Environmental buzzwords are everywhere, recycle, sustain, energy efficient, eco-friendly... the list goes on. And we should be so lucky to be living in such an eco-conscious time. How great is it that we care more about our planet than ever, honestly makes me wonder how we ever lived before. Information is literally at the tips of our fingers, and it’s not hard to make educated choices on where you spend your money, and what kind of industries you support. The purpose of this blog is to help you understand why we choose to use leather, and how it is, in fact, a sustainable material.
The majority of leather used today is a bi-product of the meat and dairy industry. Now, we all know the meat industry has a lot of room for improvement, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Even though we are now more conscious than ever, the worldwide meat consumption continues to rise, and so long as these industries exist, leather is simply the best way to make the most out of each animal. Each year, the leather industry recycles over 270 MILLION cow hides alone, per year. Without the leather industry, these skins are reduced to landfill, creating further ecological damage.
Leather is a hardy, long lasting material, which can be used to death, then recycled into something new. Even the offcuts from manufacturing processes can be recycled into lining for shoes, or stuffing. But eventually, being a natural material, will biodegrade between 10-50 years from its transition from skin to leather. Basically, by turning skin into leather, we are delaying the decomposition process, and creating a use out of something that would otherwise be useless. Making leather far more sustainable than ‘vegan leather’ which doesn’t always have a direct correlation with ‘being better for the environment’.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I tried to use mostly vegan products, believing that they would be more natural and thus better for me and my baby, but alas, I ended up with a plastic (labeled as vegan leather) baby bag, and extremely sore nipples from trying to use a ‘vegan nipple cream’ which did not work.. Thus, I turned back to what the midwives suggested, lansinoh™ and started working for a leather company. The latter occurred a few years later, but I have to laugh at the irony that is oh so the Gemini in me. In no way am I saying don't trust vegan products either, just do your research to ensure your choices align with your goals.
Of course, there are other alternative leathers such as pineapple leather, apple skin leather, cork leather and many more. But unbeknownst to many, these are still bonded with a plastic derivative, usually PU or PVC. Yes, the majority of the product is still natural, but no where near as hardy, long lasting, and natural as true leather.
Our leather is sourced ethically and sustainably, tanned to perfection, then lovingly handcrafted into our bags, wallets and purses. We are proud of what we do, and happy to know we are doing our part for the environment too. Let us know what you think in the comments below!