What is vegan leather?

Vegan leather is making its appearance more and more. New alternatives to traditional leather are emerging. And the furniture sector is also getting involved. But first, what is "vegan leather"? Casavogue offers you vegan leather furniture. In the heart of Montreal, our furniture store is also following the trend. Here, we propose you to discover more information about vegan leather.

What is the difference between classic leather and vegan leather?

Classic leather is animal

Over the past 5,000 years, humans have learned to process animal skins. They are able to create a beautiful and durable material. Leather is strong and does not rot. It also has other qualities that make it unique.

There are many ways to finish animal leather. There is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, textures and colors. It can be used for many different things. It is known to be very durable, which is a sign of high quality. High quality leather ages well, and even very well, if cared for. Over time, it acquires a patina that makes it even more beautiful. So, if you take care of it, an animal leather sofa can last for many years, even decades. Again, quality is the most important thing.

A leather product that has been well made always looks better and lasts longer. To make traditional leather, you have to kill an animal, which is obviously a big ethical issue. Every year, over a billion animals are bred and killed for their skins. In places where there are insufficient rules.

The leather industry is part of a global trend of valuing objects. No cow is killed just for its skin. There is no waste. Most meat farms donate the hides of the animals they kill. These hides are given to companies that make leather.

Vegan leather

Under the name "vegan leather", the textile industry has produced two different types of materials:

• Vegetable leathers are a group of new materials made from plants. These include pineapple leather (Pinatex), grape leather, fruit leather and mushroom leather (Muskin).
• Synthetic leathers", which are made from petrochemical products (skai or imitation leather).

When done properly, vegan leather looks very much like animal leather. Some poor quality "synthetic leathers" are difficult to imitate. It is difficult to tell the difference between good vegan leather and real leather. It is difficult to tell the difference between good vegan leather and real leather, either by looking at it or by touching it. There are already many types of vegan leathers in the industry. These vegan leathers have a finish that is very similar to leather. They can be used to make things that will last. They can be used for shoes, clothing, leather goods and furniture.

From an ethical standpoint, neither vegan leathers nor leathers made from fruit require the killing of animals. Both can therefore say that they are vegan leather. This is why different labels can be put on vegan leathers. This is to show that they are not made from animals or tested on animals. However, this is not always the case with "synthetic leathers". All types of vegan leathers are made using processes that use few natural resources. This is a huge benefit to the environment.

Not all vegan leathers are created equal, however. Synthetic leathers are the least environmentally friendly of all vegan materials. They are made from petrochemicals. They don't last very long. So the question of whether or not they can be recycled as "plastic" is always an issue. The most "eco-friendly" are the vegan leathers that come from nature. They are mainly made from plants. Among them, there are many things made from the processing of food waste. These are then transformed into other objects.

Is vegan leather good for the environment?

Vegan leather is faux leather made from materials that do not come from animal skins. This is great news for people who care about animals. Making synthetic leather is bad for the environment. It is also bad for people. This is because the plastics used to make it are toxic.

When PVC-based synthetics are made or thrown away, they release dangerous dioxins. These can cause health problems. The synthetic materials used to make vegan leather are not completely biodegradable. They can be broken down in some way, but they can also release toxic particles. They can also release phthalates. These elements can be harmful to animals and the environment as well.

Care of vegan leather

Vegan leather is waterproof because it is made with a plastic coating. This makes it easier to clean with a mild detergent or a damp cloth. It also means that conditioning products cannot penetrate the leather. They cannot prevent the leather from drying out and cracking. This can happen if the faux leather spends a lot of time in the sun or if it is not well made. You can buy products that coat the surface of the plastic. These products then prevent it from cracking. These products can also help to make the material more flexible.

Our furniture store offers vegan leather sofas. You can discover our entire range available on our website.