| Are you a vegan? Vegetarian? If so then I expect that | | | | some tanneries are now trying to make improvements, |
| you already have your views on why leather is 'bad'. It | | | | but even if tanneries did not create any pollution, |
| is a by-product, sometimes referred to as a | | | | leather would still be bad for the environment. A |
| co-product, of the animal food industry. This article | | | | spokesperson for the largest supplier of leather to |
| explains more about the 'down' side to leather - the | | | | automakers in the US said, 'The last thing we want is |
| well-known product that is used for all sorts of items, | | | | people thinking we're burning down rain forests for |
| from furniture, car seats and belts to shoes, clothing | | | | cattle just to put leather in big sport-utes'. But consider |
| and handbags. | | | | this: nearly half of all water used in the US is used to |
| First of all, what is it? Leather is a material created | | | | raise animals for meat and leather! According to the |
| through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, | | | | EPA, factory farms are the biggest source of pollution |
| primarily cows - but... whose skin are you in? When the | | | | of rivers, streams and lakes. In December 1997, the US |
| milk production of cows on dairy farms decreases, the | | | | Senate Agricultural Committee released a report that |
| cows are killed and their skins are made into leather. | | | | stated that animals raised for food and leather |
| The hides of their calves, who are frequently raised | | | | produce 130 times as much excrement as the entire |
| for veal, are made into high-priced calfskin. | | | | human population - without the benefit of |
| Leather is also made from horses, sheep, lambs, goats, | | | | waste-treatment systems. A Scripps Howard |
| and pigs who are slaughtered for meat. Other species | | | | synopsis of the report stated, 'Catastrophic cases of |
| of animals are hunted and killed specifically for their | | | | pollution, sickness, and death are occurring in areas |
| skins, including zebras, bison, water buffaloes, boars, | | | | where livestock operations are concentrated'. |
| kangaroos, elephants, eels, sharks, dolphins, seals, | | | | Locally (in Africa), since 1988, some 30 tanneries in |
| walruses, frogs, turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes. | | | | Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, the Sudan, Uganda, |
| But, you say, it looks good and feels good - sitting in | | | | the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and |
| your leather couch, your leather car seat, paying your | | | | Zimbabwe have received assistance in pollution control |
| bills with that calf-skin wallet, carrying that leather | | | | focused on the establishment or upgrading of effluent |
| handbag or briefcase. How about that it wears well? | | | | treatment facilities. |
| Kangaroo leather is favoured by motorcyclists | | | | Hmmm... it all sounds yucky to me. But what can we |
| specifically because of its lighter weight and higher | | | | use instead of animal leather that is better for us, the |
| abrasion resistance as compared to cowhide. Leather | | | | animals, the planet? |
| car seats last longer than material ones, don't they? | | | | What about the alternatives? |
| There are yes and no comments to that. Leather | | | | Many pseudo-leather materials have been developed, |
| needs to be chemically treated to ensure it does not | | | | allowing those who wish to wear leather-like garments |
| rot. Lots of chemicals... | | | | to do so without actually wearing leather. One |
| Since ancient times, human beings used animal skins | | | | example of this is vegan microfiber, which claims to be |
| and learned to make them leather. The process of | | | | stronger than leather when manufactured with |
| using chemicals to turn skins into leather is called | | | | strength in mind. Vinyl materials, Pleather, Durabuck, |
| tanning. The leather making is a combination of series | | | | NuSuede, Hydrolite, and other alternatives exist, |
| of processes that starts from skin recovery to curing, | | | | providing some features similar to leather. |
| soaking and unhairing, deliming and bathing, to | | | | Faux leather made by Ultrafabrics has, according to |
| vegetable or mineral tanning, lubrication and dyeing, and | | | | the company's Web site, 'features to protect the |
| finally to finishing. | | | | environment like a 100% biodegradable backcloth, no |
| Leather Is Bad for Human Health | | | | plasticizers, no stabilizers, no adhesives, extensive |
| Mordants and other chemicals often used to treat | | | | recycling in the manufacturing process-and no need |
| leather are linked to nervous disorders, asthma, | | | | for potentially toxic after-care'. |
| premature death, gynaecological disorders, weakness, | | | | You want non-leather handbags, shoes, wallets, belts... |
| dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, | | | | there are many reputable companies out there to help |
| constipation, skin and respiratory infections, cancer and | | | | you with your new choices. Check out the Internet for |
| other serious illnesses. According to an investigation by | | | | names. Yes a lot are in the US and the UK but you |
| the New York State Department of Health, the | | | | can order safely on line. There are plenty of places in |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | | | | South Africa where you can buy faux leather articles... |
| and other agencies, those who work in tanneries may | | | | do a search on Google to find out for yourself! |
| be greatly increasing their risk of testicular cancer. The | | | | When you buy shoes, check out what they are made |
| US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found | | | | of. There should be a label on the bottom or the inside |
| that in an area near one Kentucky leather tannery, the | | | | to tell you if the shoe is produced from man-made |
| incidence of leukaemia was five times the national | | | | materials or leather. If you don't see the label, just ask |
| average. | | | | the store manager what they are made from. That is |
| Hmm... perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to purchase | | | | what I do. I always explain that I need to know |
| that leather lounge suite? | | | | because I am allergic to leather (morally allergic that is). |
| Leather Is Bad for the Environment | | | | What about the leather car seats? Can't order faux |
| Although some leather makers deceptively tout their | | | | leather for them. True. But there are alternatives. Even |
| products as "eco-friendly," turning skin into leather also | | | | in high-end vehicles, leather seats are becoming |
| requires massive amounts of energy and dangerous | | | | something of an anachronism. Leather seats are hot in |
| chemicals. Often, animal skins used for leather are kept | | | | the summer and very cold in the winter. Yes I know |
| from biodegrading (going rotten) by using a variety of | | | | you can get them heated and cooled... but why not |
| dangerous substances, including mineral salts | | | | help the environment (and the animals too if you care |
| (chromium, aluminium, iron and zirconium), formaldehyde, | | | | for them) by buying non-leather seats. |
| coal-tar derivatives and various oils and dyes, some of | | | | Final thought |
| which are cyanide-based. All waste containing | | | | Wearing leather hurts animals, the environment, and the |
| chromium is considered hazardous by the US | | | | people who produce it. Care for the planet and all the |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other | | | | species that inhabit it by buying readily-available |
| bodies. | | | | alternatives. |
| In an attempt to appear environmentally conscious, | | | | |