Vegan leather - what is it and what are its differences compared to real leather? April 22

Vegan leather is a material that is made to mimic the look and feel of real leather. Vegan leather is made from a variety of raw materials and can be classified into three categories: synthetic (also known as faux leather), plant-plastic hybrid, and plastic-free.

Faux leather, or synthetic leather, is made from fossil fuels. Product labels may also list the material as polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Plant-plastic hybrid leathers are a combination of plant material and PU. The polyurethane is used to make the material waterproof and more durable. Common plant sources include mushroom mycelium, pineapple leaves, cactus leaves, and grape skins.

Plastic-free vegan leathers are made from cork, rice, natural tree rubber, or coconut husks.

Real leather is made from various animals. In Estonia, leather is primarily made from cattle, sheep, and goats. The skin becomes a material after it is tanned, during which the raw hide is treated with chemicals to stop it from decomposing.

Many of us have probably come across the first category of vegan leather, which is made from fossil fuels. You may have also noticed that products made from this material are not very durable. After a while, the material tends to become brittle, sticky, and its top layer crumbles/peels off. In addition, the production of faux leather is not very good for nature or people, as chemicals are used in its production that can be dangerous for both workers and the environment.

Although there has been a lot of talk lately about how vegan leather is environmentally friendly, this is not always the case and can be considered greenwashing. The main concerns with vegan leather tend to be the use of plastic, the pollution it causes (especially when it ends up in landfills) and the release of microplastics into water.

While the production of plastic-free vegan leather may potentially be less energy-intensive and produce fewer greenhouse gases, its appearance is not very close to real leather. The material is beautiful and distinctive in its own way, so it is good for those whose number one factor when buying a new accessory is not the look and feel of leather.

So the next time we read the term “vegan leather” on a product label, let’s think about which category it might fall into and whether it would be the smartest decision.

Real leather is also not particularly innocent towards the environment and people. Its production contributes to air, water and soil pollution. In addition, this material also costs a life. 

The advantage of leather is its durability over vegan leather, considering that both of them pollute the environment (all production and consumption contributes negatively to some extent). But what we can do is choose our items consciously. Prefer more durable materials. Take care of our things and use them for as long as possible, repairing and extending their lifespan if necessary.

Leather has been used for millennia. This material will remain in good condition for decades if it is well cared for. In short, by preferring durable materials, its production is also more beneficial for the environment, since it does not have to be constantly remade.

In addition, maximum use of the material already produced helps. In other words, we should contribute to the fact that as little waste as possible is created and as much as possible is used. This way, we can value the material and its origin, reducing waste and making the most of the resources spent on its production. This is the mindset of N-20 Studio, where we make all products from deadstock and scrap leather from upholstered furniture and footwear manufacturers.

Let's take care of our genuine leather products, extending their lifespan and contributing to sustainability. Our website has a care guide that can be applied to all leather items. We are also ready to assist you with repair and redesign issues to further increase the potential of leather items.