If I understand correctly, cow hides are largely a by-product of beef production, and reducing leather use would not have an effect on animal suffering. Apple

If I understand correctly, cow hides are largely a by-product of beef production, and reducing leather use would not have an effect on animal suffering. Apple stopped using leather and was criticised for environmental damage at least in the short-to-medium term (underutilisation of existing materials, new demand for plastics and synthetics).