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Pleather has been around forever, as an inferior product that does not last nearly as long. Let's call it vegan for a win. also: https://www.vocativ.com/281599

Pleather has been around forever, as an inferior product that does not last nearly as long. Let's call it vegan for a win. also: https://www.vocativ.com/281599/vegan-leather-isnt-as-ethical-as-you-think/ https://www.vocativ.com/281599/vegan-leather-isnt-as-ethical...

ppseafield 7y ago
Re: your link, I agree that we would do well to find better ways to produce non-animal-sourced clothing that doesn't produce the number of pollutants some of our current options do. But I take issue with this quote: > The holy grail of sustainability is a closed-loop system. “With leather, nature has created its own sort of closed-loop system,” says Hustvedt. “The carcass of an animal can decay in the ground and nurture plants that are eaten by the next generation of animal.” Yes, and that's great for the environment if you look past all of the environmental harm created by raising the animals needed for that leather. But CO2 and methane production, deforestation, runoff from factory farms... all of these consequences take a serious toll on the environment. There are a lot of bad choices for clothing - cotton is notorious for requiring a lot of pesticides to grow as well. And that many clothes are made in sweatshops in poorer countries, not uncommonly made with child labor. And it's all shipped across the ocean using fossil fuels. It doesn't have to be this way though.
- beatgammit 7y ago
  The question is, are these animals being grown for food or leather? Afaik, leather is mostly a byproduct of the beef industry, and if it's not used it'll just go to waste. I could maybe agree that buying leather is a bad net choice if beef was the byproduct, but until I see that, I have no qualms about buying leather products, especially since they last longer than synthetic versions.
  - ppseafield 7y ago
    Even if 0% of livestock was raised specifically for their hides, we have to globally reduce our animal consumption to stave off climate change as much as possible. It's not just a simple "Oh, it's a byproduct." It's a byproduct of an industry that is seriously contributing to climate change. And market interest in non-leather clothing will drive companies to make better non-leather clothing.

ppseafield 7y ago

Re: your link, I agree that we would do well to find better ways to produce non-animal-sourced clothing that doesn't produce the number of pollutants some of our current options do. But I take issue with this quote: > The holy grail of sustainability is a closed-loop system. “With leather, nature has created its own sort of closed-loop system,” says Hustvedt. “The carcass of an animal can decay in the ground and nurture plants that are eaten by the next generation of animal.” Yes, and that's great for the environment if you look past all of the environmental harm created by raising the animals needed for that leather. But CO2 and methane production, deforestation, runoff from factory farms... all of these consequences take a serious toll on the environment. There are a lot of bad choices for clothing - cotton is notorious for requiring a lot of pesticides to grow as well. And that many clothes are made in sweatshops in poorer countries, not uncommonly made with child labor. And it's all shipped across the ocean using fossil fuels. It doesn't have to be this way though.

beatgammit 7y ago
The question is, are these animals being grown for food or leather? Afaik, leather is mostly a byproduct of the beef industry, and if it's not used it'll just go to waste. I could maybe agree that buying leather is a bad net choice if beef was the byproduct, but until I see that, I have no qualms about buying leather products, especially since they last longer than synthetic versions.
- ppseafield 7y ago
  Even if 0% of livestock was raised specifically for their hides, we have to globally reduce our animal consumption to stave off climate change as much as possible. It's not just a simple "Oh, it's a byproduct." It's a byproduct of an industry that is seriously contributing to climate change. And market interest in non-leather clothing will drive companies to make better non-leather clothing.