Rethinking Leather: The Rise of Vegan Alternatives and the Threat to Rainforests
Deforestation of the Amazon is predominantly caused by the widespread demand for luxury leather interiors. However, there is a growing trend in favor of vegan leather, which is being embraced by an increasing number of automobile manufacturers due to its superior sustainability.
While leather products like designer handbags, boots, and shoes provide a sense of luxury and comfort, it is crucial to assess whether they genuinely outperform the many alternatives available in the form of vegan leather. Leather, derived from animal hides, is known for its durability, resilience, and aesthetic appeal. When used in car interiors, it creates a refined ambiance with its soft and supple texture, and the familiar scent of new leather is universally cherished.
Having said that, the production and demand for leather are posing a significant threat to rainforests. As a valuable co-product of the cattle industry, alongside beef, leather contributes to the profitability of raising cattle. However, cattle require grazing fields, and in regions where cattle farming is lucrative, deforestation rates are increasing. Research indicates that the cattle industry is the primary driver of Amazon rainforest deforestation, as highlighted by Stand.earth, which recently released new findings emphasizing how the fashion industry is pushing the Amazon rainforest toward irreversible ecosystem collapse.
The Amazon region encompasses 40 percent of the world’s remaining rainforests, supports 25 percent of terrestrial biodiversity, and hosts more fish species than any other river system, according to the World Bank. This biodiversity plays a critical role in global systems, including the carbon cycle and climate change dynamics.
In the United States, as the average car price has soared to nearly $50,000, consumers’ expectations for leather upholstery have inadvertently contributed to Amazon deforestation. Luxury cars often require a dozen or more hides, making the leather market a highly lucrative industry valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
Fortunately, alternatives to leather are increasingly prevalent, offering responsible and sustainable choices. By paying attention to the upholstery options and interior descriptions provided by car manufacturers, it becomes evident that non-leather alternatives are gaining popularity.
Faux leather, an established alternative, closely resembles genuine leather in appearance and texture while offering similar attributes. Manufacturers claim that it outperforms leather in terms of durability and reliability. Even prominent fashion brands like Matt & Nat and von Holzhausen are creating products made from vegan leather. Additionally, faux leather is lighter than genuine leather, which positively impacts fuel economy and battery electric efficiency. The main types of vegan leather include synthetic vegan leather (also known as faux leather or leatherette), reclaimed vegan leather made from post-consumer plastics and other waste materials, and natural vegan leather made from organic matter such as fruit byproducts, cork, mushrooms, and even paper. Compared to synthetic leather, natural vegan leather is more sustainable and of higher quality.
The advantages of vegan leather include its environmental and animal-friendly nature, its sustainability and cost-effectiveness, its made-to-order approach, which reduces waste, and its lower reliance on toxic chemicals during production. Moreover, it is easier to maintain, resists stains, and offers waterproof properties. Additional options such as cork leather (sourced without harming trees), Desserto made from cacti plants, pineapple leaf leather, and algae-based leather are all readily available and do not contribute to rainforest devastation.
Responsible leather, which adheres to sustainable practices, does exist; however, its widespread adoption in the automotive industry is still pending. The Leather Working Group collaborates with car manufacturers like BMW and Bentley to establish sustainable standards for leather interiors. This includes rating tanneries based on their energy and water usage, chemical disposal, carbon emissions, and implementing traceability and monitoring across the entire supply chain. Companies like Elfa Leather, which repurpose leather by-products, are gaining popularity. Consequently, it is anticipated that sustainable leather interiors will gradually become more prevalent in cars.
Major automakers, such as BMW and Toyota, are actively embracing synthetic leather alternatives. BMW has incorporated SensaTec faux leather extensively, while Toyota’s SofTex leatherette has become a standard feature in many models, often indistinguishable from genuine leather. Furthermore, numerous electric car manufacturers, including Genesis, Lexus, Audi, Ford, and GMC, exclusively offer leatherette options, with real leather being unavailable.
These emerging technologies hold great promise, not only for their resilience and sustainability but also for utilizing materials that are already accessible. Saving the rainforest translates into saving both the environment and financial resources—a favorable outcome for all parties involved.
Another company that is environmentally is Driver’s Auto Mart. Our dealership has a wide array of vehicles from several different brands such as the electric car company, Tesla. Check out our online pre-owned inventory to see all that we have to offer and chat with one of our representatives for more information.
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