"170 of the chemicals used to tan leather are likely to: harm soil
and agricultural land; contribute to air pollution; pose risks to wildlife,
including animals and plants; and generate hazardous waste in various forms,
and overall immense amounts of waste". Leather is not a byproduct of cows
that are used for dairy and/or meat, but rather it is its own product. Leather
can also be responsible for some parts of deforestation which is known to cause
the temperature of the Earth to increase. Trees are required in order to combat
the high levels of CO2 so by cutting them down we are seeing the levels rise.
However, many people are working on solutions that are more sustainable and
environmentally friendly. Two of these options are cacti and old mangoes.
Leather can be made from old
mangoes that would otherwise end up in a landfill. This is great because it
kills two birds with one stone. Mangoes stay out of the landfill, which is
already incredibly filled with waste, and fewer cows have to die and fewer trees
need to be cut down. Just in the Netherlands alone, 1500 mangoes end up going bad because of the
quality processes that go on. They have problems; the shelf life is less than
ten years. However, they are in the earlier stages of their manufacturing and
will work overtime in a way to make the shelf life last longer. But for now, they
are cutting down on waste and manufacturing leather. The owners of the companystarted up in 2016 with a goal to reduce waste in the Netherlands, but this
idea can spark many others in other countries. Sometimes it only takes one good
idea in order to inspire more.
Another idea some have come up with
is to use cacti to create leather. It is made from 92% plant material which makes the leather stronger and
more breathable. It is sustainable and biodegradable. The Nopal cactus leaves do
not require a ton of water in order to grow which makes them the perfect
option. It does still have some artificial materials but only 10% versus the
alternative that contains a lot more non-biodegradable material. This option
first debuted in 2019, so it too is still a newer option with room to grow. The
cactus is also incrediblydurable in strength and can be very versatile to fit all shapes and
sizes that are desired. The other great thing is that both the cactus and the
mango can be sold at a fraction of the cost that real leather.
This is a newer idea but will
inspire others to take risks and think outside the box which is exactly what is
needed in order to fight climate change. Today it is cacti and mango leather
replacing traditional leather, tomorrow it is some other new bright idea!
I never knew leather could be made from mangoes or cactus. It’s amazing how something so simple can help reduce waste and save animals. I'm curious how long does this kind of leather last compared to regular leather? Thanks for sharing this inspiring idea, Abby!
ReplyDeleteIt's encouraging to read these innovative ideas that make small, specific changes but everything adds up. Who knew leather had so many chemical additives that were so harmful!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool, and I never knew that this was possible. If more people come up with sustainable ideas, we might have a chance to mitigate these effects!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting idea! It's amazing how something as simple as repurposing food waste can contribute to a more sustainable future.
ReplyDeleteI love reading blogs like this because I feel like I’m learning more than I ever would in years. I think that this is a very interesting idea, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! Leather is such a waste and threat to cows and does not need to be produced anymore as we can now make it synthetically. Not only does this reduce waste and save animals, but it also can be made cheaper and more ethically now as well. This also prevets food waste from mangos.
ReplyDeleteA lot of things in the world is made of leather, I am glad that people are working on making an artificial leather that is environmentally friendly. Also I had no idea that they used 170 different chemicals to tan leather, i don't think I could name that many. Very informative!
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting! It is always great to hear about sustainable alternatives to everyday products, I imagine this is not only helpful by reducing the use of polluting chemicals but also reduces methane emissions from cattle.
ReplyDeleteNow this is a term I never thought I would hear vegan leather? seeing how it is beneficial I understand the concept of two birds with one stone. Mangoes stay out of the landfill, which is already incredibly filled with waste, and fewer cows have to die and fewer trees need to be cut down.
ReplyDeleteInnovative alternatives to traditional leather, such as mango and cactus-based materials, offer sustainable solutions that reduce waste, minimize environmental impact, and inspire further creativity in the fight against climate change.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting, I have heard of vegan leather before but I wasn't sure the exact process for it. I might've missed it but is vegan leather more affordable than traditional leather?
ReplyDeleteWe are definitely ushering into a new era where we need to stop valuing animal byproduct and environmentally destructive products. If it is convenient and available I will always choose the more environmentally friendly option every day, and I hope our fellow Americans will follow suit.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! I was half expecting to see the suggested alternative of 'pleather' (which is a common vegan alternative to traditional leather, although even worse than regular leather), but was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of cacti and mangoes!
ReplyDeleteI do still think we should put to use the hides of cows that are already butchered for their meat, as it probably shouldn't just go to waste either.
Leather has been made for centuries, so it can't have always used such harsh industrial chemicals. I think, in addition to these spunky leather alternatives, we should also pursue efforts to phase out harsh chemicals in the making leather and return to more traditional production methods.
Nonetheless, it was fun to read about these other great vegan leather alternatives!
Plant- based leather has a interesting ring to it, I'm not into leather but im sure if someone who wants to be trendy can try this out. 92 % plant based is impressive
ReplyDeleteI love this! I feel like it needs an original name though.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool. I can already imagine people walking around in a cactus leather jacket. I would wonder if changing the color would require materials that aren't biodegradable? Would that increase the cost as well? I think it's such a great idea but I'm not sure how people will feel about green all of the time
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of plant based leather before right now. I just wonder if plant based leather could hold up to use for decades like real leather does. I'd buy a cactus leather jacket, that sounds cool.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using mangoes to make leather. I wonder what this might smell like. I wonder how many types of leather could be made from plants.
ReplyDeleteI'm with so many commenters who had no idea that leather could be made from cactus, let alone mangoes. There are so many ways to improve the way we live, be more in harmony with nature, and reduce climate impacts. I am glad these ideas are getting our attention.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of either of these ideas, this is super cool! There are so many industries involved with this. I am so glad you made this post!
ReplyDelete