AIBU but is Vegan Leather a con?

[Lincslady53]

We are looking a what our next car will be, and on looking at review videos on youtube a number of new cars have the option of 'vegan leather' upholstery. I google what this material is. Answer. POLYURETHANE! So instead of covering the seats in a natural, biodegradable product, it is a man made, from oil, that will break down into micro plastics, and take forever to totally degrade. AIBU to think that marketing companies take the public for fools?

It’s actually a co-product. If demand for leather falls and farmers who currently get profit for a cow’s skin can no longer do so, the price of buying the cow’s flesh would have to go up.

Wow, bit harsh calling the OP an idiot. I think she makes a very good point!

Hmm. One major problem I have with plastic imitation leather is that it has a lifespan of about 3 years before it starts disintegrating into disgusting little flakes that stick to your skin. A real leather jacket or handbag will last 30years or more.

I am interested in trying out the new plant based leather imitations like pineapple, mushroom or cork based products to see how well they last.

Well "vegan leather" is a load of BS, but as a product it's remarkably practical. Pretty much standard in cars of the 60's and 70's

Leather is a by product of the meat industry. And probably far less polluting than the chemical factories used to make fake leather.

In some countries cows and crocodiles are skinned alive for their leathers.

Is this just another vegan bash thread disguised as a marketing thread?

This absolutely does not read as a vegan bashing thread to me at all. It seems as though the OP is sick of companies greenwashing - which is exactly what many of them are doing.

It isn’t an attack on people’s beliefs - in fact I would say quite the opposite. People who are environmentally conscious shouldn’t be fooled in to making incorrect choices based on dubious marketing techniques.

For me, my car is an old petrol car with fabric seats that I barely use. I plan on running it until it dies. God knows what the carbon footprint is of a brand new car…

Just like someone up thread is talking about actual vegan leather handbags. I just don’t own a handbag. Much better.

Over consumption and throwaway culture (new cars every three years, new sofas every three years etc) is one of the main environmental issues IMO

I have a vegan “leather” wallet and bag by thamon . I must admit the handbag hasn’t held up , it’s fraying at the hinges but it is about a decade old and it’s made from leaves so I imagine better for the environment than the plastic I might have otherwise purchased. The smell of leather makes me feel nauseous so I’d never buy it.

Leather isn’t just animal skin, producing it involves a whole bunch of nasty chemicals to stop it rotting which are very polluting plus it’s very water intensive. It makes up about 25% of slaughterhouse profit so it’s not a by product it’s just a co product at best and the more expensive leather is often just a product.

if you don’t want to buy plastic don’t buy a car. Complaining about greenwashing and pretending to care about biodegradable products when you are buying a box of plastic is ridiculous.

Its not vegan bashing

Its bashing the marketing of a dishonest product

Dont attach the word leather to things that arent leather

Faux leather is another one that really annoys me

I try my hardest to only use natural products. Im just looking around the room Im in now and nearly everything is wool, cotton, linen, jute, coir. I buy specific sofas and chairs to that end but you cant always get every single thing absolutely right so there is an arm chair in this room with a polyester cover but its years and years old.

I cant stand it when things are sold as something they're not to make more money.

Wait till you find out that Bamboo sheets etc are just Rayon rebranded.

Honestly - leather gives me the ick. Even when I was a little kid, I just couldn’t get passed the fact it’s dead skin. 🤢🤢🤢

as much as I know plastic is bad and try avoid it elsewhere , the thought of my skin on a dead anything makes me want to be sick!

i can’t even stand sisal and jute in my house because all I can think about is it exfoliating off people’s skin.

Vegan leather trainers are dreadfully squeaky.
It's put an end to my career as a cat burglar.

Uh? Which news?

It's plant based . That doesn't mean it's made from plants only

Yes vegan leather obviously needs to be made from something that isn't actually leather.

Breaking news!!

Should be a rolling banner across the screen at tea time!!

It seems as though the OP is sick of companies greenwashing

Most intelligent people can see through the marketing. And if you're really worried about greenwashing, don't use a car! Yes, I'm a vegan. And no, I don't have a car. Why? Because I don't think the planet will be in a good state for your grandchildren if we don't change (I don't have grandchildren)

this just another vegan bash thread disguised as a marketing thread?

It's about marketing awful materials disguised as something green & ethical.

The BBC, the guardian etc

It's all the same isn't it. I never understand the obsession with bamboo fabric, it's just viscose.

LVT is another one, constantly recommended on here and it's just vinyl. Meanwhile Linoleum which is actually an environmentally friendly product is seen as cheap and nasty because people use 'linoleum' when they mean PVC.

Buy some push bikes and use public transport if you’re truly concerned about the environment rather that behaving like an idiot starting an anti vegan thread

How is it anti-vegan? It’s anti the manufacturers and traders who cynically jump on bandwagons with no concern for animals or the environment, with the sole aim of lining their pockets.

I thought your initial post was satire....and now I'm not sure. You were joking, right?

It's tricky because even though leather is a natural material it's a nightmare lengthy process using lots of chemicals and water to get it to a usable state. Neither is great for the environment. Both have pros and cons much like most materials.

Plastic, marketed as leather. It’s genius!
People paying prices for something that should last a lifetime when in reality it’s ready for the bin quite quickly.

YANBU. What used to be considered cheap plastic fake leather has now been rebranded as vegan leather at the same price or more. DS is vegan and wears vegan leather shoes. They are very expensive, hard and don't relax and mould to the foot as leather does, just like super cheap shoes from Primark and Amazon. I don't get how people are fooled by this. The microplastics element hadn't occurred to me, though. That is shocking if branded as an eco option.

Just buy a car with fabric seats or real leather seats? Don't buy into tje green/plant-based washing concept.