Is leather out of date?
Some people think we shouldn’t use animal skins any more.
Strong but soft and smooth, leather has been used by humans as a material for thousands of years. You might find your car has leather seats or perhaps your sofa is made of it. Lots of people wear leather belts and shoes. However, alternatives are becoming more popular as people seek materials that look and feel like leather but don’t come from an animal. Synthetic leather has been around for a long time but it is made using chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. More recently, experts have been experimenting by growing “real” leather from animal cells (cells are the basic building blocks of all living things) in a lab and making leather-like material from plants. Perhaps we don’t need animal skins any more. What do you think? Is leather out of date?
Yes – it’s no longer needed
Many people think it’s unacceptable to wear a fur coat, so why is it ok to wear a leather one? It’s still made from an animal. We have cheaper alternatives to leather that don’t use any part of an animal, so why not buy them instead? Most leather comes from cows, which produce methane, a gas that causes climate change. A US government report in 2023 said turning hides into leather produces air pollution, dangerous wastewater and it can expose workers to harmful chemicals. Scientists and designers have been exploring new alternatives. We can already buy “leather” made from pineapple, mushroom or cactus, and scientists have worked out how to “grow” leather in a lab that is virtually the same as the real thing.
No – leather is still the best option
Many people around the world eat meat, so it makes sense to use those animal skins for leather instead of letting them go to waste. Leather is a natural material and is generally breathable (it absorbs sweat and dampness and releases it as vapour, cooling the wearer down and keeping feet fresh). It is also hard wearing and when it does finally wear out it biodegrades (breaks down) naturally. Many fake leathers are still made from some types of plastic.
This might not harm animals directly but it does harm the environment. Plus, artificial leather is not as tough as real leather, which could mean you have to replace items more often. It can’t usually be recycled, so it adds to the problem of plastic pollution.