Find out what the best type of vegan leather is and how it can help future generations!
Most people in the world are aware of the ongoing issues we have with the environment. Depletion of the ozone layer, decrease in biodiversity, pollution, deforestation, and of course the most widely known term, global warming.
Many companies and manufacturers have already started adopting the idea of a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
The leather industry is one such industry that has begun shifting away from animal leather and towards a more natural and sustainable means of production, in other words, Natural Vegan Leather.
Cactus Leather Article Summary
What Is the Difference Between Vegan Leather and Nylon? What is Nylon?
Nylon was created in 1935 and is essentially plastic thread woven together.
The reason why nylon became so popular is because of its cheap manufacturing cost. Although very cheap to produce, nylon comes at a cost.
Producing nylon creates nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Not only that, the process is very reliant on large amounts of water and energy, which contributes heavily to environmental pollution, degradation, and of course, global warming.
Vegan leather on the other hand is a growing industry on the rise that is predicted to be worth $89 billion by 2025.
Animal rights organizations such as PETA are pushing the idea that no animal by-products should be used in manufacturing any form of clothing and accessories.
Vegan leather or Faux leather is essentially synthetic leather that does not come from any animal skin.
Although not 100% eco-friendly or ecological, many leather companies are moving away from animal leather as it is more sustainable and environmentally friendlier.
Why Move Away From Animal Leather? What is Cactus Leather?
Animal leather, as the name suggests, is made from an animal’s hide.
After the animal is skinned, the tanner cleans and removes all unwanted debris such as hair from the leather and stretches it.
The process of creating animal leather is far from natural. After removing the hide from an animal, it is then treated with numerous toxic chemicals to convert the raw skin into a durable material.
Various animal leather production factories from around the world have been recorded to produce tons of toxic waste in the environment.
Not to mention the gallons and gallons of water that each factory uses for every ton of hiding its processes.
Cactus leather is a type of vegan leather created by Desserto found to be 100% natural and completely free of any toxic materials such as plastic.
As the name suggests, cactus leather is made from cacti and is highly sustainable to make. Cacti require almost no water to grow, and the process of harvesting allows the plant to regrow naturally as only the top half is collected.
Cactus leather is organic, recyclable, and beyond all, contains natural dyes that do not require any forms of toxic chemicals to be added.
What Are The Different Types Of Vegan Leather? Cactus Leather or PU Leather?
There are two types of vegan leather. PU or PVC-based vegan leather and natural, plastic-free leather.
Many vegan leather products require the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) to make.
These two materials require large amounts of water, chemicals, and dyes to imitate the crisp and beautiful look of real leather.
PU or PVC leather is a cheaper alternative but has a very short shelf life. In a few years, PU or PVC leather products may start to crack.
Natural and plastic-free vegan leather such as cactus leather is 100% sustainable and almost completely biodegradable.
It requires little to no water and the harvesting process is not harmful to the environment at all.
Cactus leather also has a guaranteed shelf life of at least 10 years. The rise of cactus leather aims to offer a cruel-free and sustainable alternative to PU and PVC-filled vegan leather.
Why Is Cactus Leather The Best Option For My Dogs & Cats?
We don’t believe that it is in our role to tell what our customers should and shouldn’t buy.
On the other hand, we do believe passionately in the rights and welfare of animals. Animal leather accessories and plastic-based leather take so much away from our environment.
At Merci Collective, we believe that it makes sense to avoid these types of products when there are alternative ways to make the same if not better, and more beautiful products that don’t compromise animal and environmental welfare.
Are Merci Collective Products Made From Cactus Leather?
Merci Collective products are all 100% eco-friendly and sustainable. We take pride in making high-quality products that aren't only fashion-forward but also do good for both you and the environment. Our Cactus Line of accessories is made with 100% vegan cactus leather and is curated to help you heal the pain of your beloved dogs and cats with our signature embedded healing crystals.
We hope you found this article helpful, for more information please visit www.mercicollective.com/contact/