FACTS ABOUT LEATHER

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LEATHER IS A SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL

Properly made and sourced leather is a truly sustainable material. Hides and skins are mostly a by-product dependent on the meat and dairy industry. Transformation into leather is the best use for those hides and skins. The leather industry is creating a material that is both natural and long lasting.

ALMOST ANY SKIN CAN BE USED TO MAKE LEATHER

Almost any skin can be used to make leather. To be named “leather” the skin must be essentially intact with its original fibrous structure. The hair or wool may, or may not, have been removed. Synthetic materials made to look like leather are sometimes incorrectly referred to as ‘synthetic leather’. This term can be legally challenged when used as a marketing argument, and is clearly illegal in a number of countries.

LEATHER IS UNIQUE IN ITS ABILITY TO COMBINE BEAUTY, COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY

Hides can be manufactured to create a wide range of finishes and colors, and to achieve a beautiful balance between form and function. A leather product is durable and often becomes more beautiful and comfortable with age as it conforms to your own personal use, those with a natural finish can also help regulate temperature through breathability. Leather offers protection from wind and cold, and can be made resistant to rain and snow.

LEATHER TANNING IS A MODERN, SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS

Various tanning methods are used for turning a hide into leather; the most well-known are chrome and vegetable tanning. All methods have a comparable environmental impact and are environmentally safe when the industry’s best practices are followed.

HIDES & SKINS ARE A NATURAL BY-PRODUCT OF THE MEAT INDUSTRY

LEATHER MANUFACTURERS UPCYCLE THEM INTO BEAUTIFUL, VERSATILE, VALUABLE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

 

THIS REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT GOES TO LANDFILL

WHEN IS LEATHER NOT LEATHER?

DIFFERENT MATERIALS HAVE DIFFERENT BENEFITS, BUT LABELS CAN BE CONFUSING. GET THE FACTS.

Any material that is not of animal origin, can be referred to as vegan. It is important to note it does not necessarily mean natural and there is no relationship with the environmental impact of the product and whether or not it is biodegradable or can be recycled.

Leather is of natural origin and the internationally recognised definition as set down by the International Standard Organisation (ISO) is... Hide or Skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible, where the hair or wool may or may not have been removed.

TO BE CLEAR TO CONSUMERS ON ORIGIN AND BENEFITS, THE TERM LEATHER SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR MATERIALS THAT MEET THIS DEFINITION.

Synthetic materials made with oil based products, these are artificial. They are composed of a substance that is usually made with polyester or nylon coated with PVC or PU.

A mix of natural components that are mostly combined or backed with other materials to give them strength or body. The combination material is often PU or PVC so it is important to check the composition label if a completely natural product is required.

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