When learning about sustainability, we are often told that the vegan product is the sustainable one, but when it comes to leather, it may not be so simple. It is natural to want to look for an alternative to leather, considering what we know about the impact of animal agriculture on the environment. As vegan alternatives are beginning to gain more attention, unfortunately your vegan doc martens might not be any different than your vintage leather jacket when it comes to sustainability.

What is vegan leather actually made from? Most vegan leathers are made from PVC- a type of, yes you guessed it, plastic. It’s the most widely used plastic due to being much lower cost than other materials, and unfortunately is it also incredibly damaging when it comes to the environment. If PVC gets into the water course, it can contaminate water supply and harm aquatic life and the fumes when burning PVC also create air pollution. 

The main issue with leather being made from plastic of course, is the fact that it can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, in comparison with normal leather that biodegrades within 25-50 years. This wouldn’t be so much of an issue if vegan leather was more durable, and lasted longer than genuine leather, but even this is not the case. Even if well looked after, vegan leather could only last up to five years compared to genuine leather which can famously last for decades. This means that even with the conscious decision to slow down fashion, buy less and wear for longer, your vegan leather clothes won’t last as long as it’s counterpart.