While most leather comes from cows and calves (bovine leather), it is also made from the skin of pigs, goats and sheep (including lambs). More unusual and so-called exotic sources include alligators, ostriches, snakes and kangaroos. Animal-derived leather is a favourite for a reason—it’s durable, beautiful and is a mainstay of many everyday products, from shoes to wallets to cars.
Animal Leather Pros:
- Durability: Traditional leather is renowned for its longevity, often lasting decades with proper care.
- Aesthetic Appeal: It offers a classic, high-quality look and feel that many consumers value.
- Biodegradability: Untreated leather can eventually break down in natural environments.
Animal Leather Cons:
- Environmental Impact: Bovine leather production is resource-intensive, contributing in part to 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions through livestock farming. Deforestation and water pollution are also significant concerns.
- Ethical Issues: The leather industry raises animal welfare concerns and is closely tied to the meat industry.
- Chemical Usage: Tanning processes often involve hazardous chemicals, posing risks to workers and ecosystems. Finishing leather often involves plastic coatings.
- Toxic Water Waste: Leather tanneries are notoriously polluting of water. A study published in the Water Quality Research Journal highlights that tannery wastewater has become one of the dominant sources of industrial pollution, with the global leather industry producing approximately 600 million cubic meters of effluent annually.