There is No Alternative to Real Leather: Why “Vegan Leather” Hurts the Planet More Than the Real Stuff

- Vegan Leather, Real Leather, and the Problem of Greenwashing - 

The era of fast fashion has championed a new crop of kitschy buzzwords and marketing tactics used to disguise unethical practices and low-quality materials.

One of the most harmful myths fast-fashion companies’ marketing departments have perpetuated is that of “vegan leather.” With sustainability and transparency at the top of consumers’ minds, marketers have co-opted sustainability terminology to justify their wasteful, cost-cutting production model.

So what is vegan leather, really? And is it really as sustainable as these fast-fashion brands make it out to be? This article breaks down what vegan leather actually is, how it compares to real leather, and which sustainability claims actually hold up.

- What is “Vegan Leather” Anyway? -

At its most basic level, leather is defined as “a material made from the skin of an animal by tanning or a similar process.”

The term “vegan leather” is most often used to describe plastic-based materials designed to imitate the look and feel of real, animal-derived leather. These materials are typically produced as lower-cost substitutes for traditional leather for use in garments and footwear.

From a technical standpoint, vegan leather cannot be considered leather at all. Simply put, “vegan leather” is a marketing term designed to make plastic sound more palatable.

- Why is Vegan Leather So Bad? -

Proponents of vegan leather market the material as a sustainable alternative to animal-based leather, claiming that it reduces the environmental impact associated with agriculture. In reality, the production of vegan leather is a source of environmental degradation and pollution in its own right. The processes and materials that go into producing vegan leather have a more significant impact on our bodies and environment than consumers are led to believe.

It replaces bio-based animal leather with fossil-fuel–derived plastic.

Vegan leather is most commonly made from polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These man-made materials are derived from chemical byproducts of the petroleum industry, the largest contributor to global climate change. Unlike animal leather, vegan leather is plastic-based and is not biodegradable.

It prioritizes low cost over durability.

 Due to the nature of the plastics they’re made from, vegan leathers break down visually long before they break down chemically. With regular use or prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, or water, they predictably crack and peel in as little as a few months. This leads to higher rates of disposal, filling landfills with materials that will take hundreds of years to decompose.

It contributes to microplastic pollution.

When vegan leathers are stretched, get wet, or are exposed to extreme heat or friction, they shed tiny plastic particles into the environment. These microplastic particles have been shown to bioaccumulate in human tissue and act as potential endocrine disruptors. Microplastics released into the air, soil, and water have also been found to negatively affect marine organisms and soil health.

It cannot be fully recycled.

Vegan leathers are typically composite materials, made from layers of PU or PVC bonded to fabric. Composite materials cannot be easily recycled like typical, single-material plastics. Extra steps need to be taken to prepare the material for recycling, and that is often costly and energy-intensive.

- Why Real Leather is the More Sustainable Option -

Leather predates plastic by centuries and is derived from animal hides already produced by our food system. Unlike plastic-based vegan leathers, it's designed to age, be repaired, and last for decades, not months. When sustainability is measured by durability, material origin, and long-term environmental impact, real leather fundamentally outperforms its synthetic counterparts.

It repurposes waste from the meat and dairy industries. 

No animal is killed explicitly for its hide or skin. Hides are natural byproducts of the meat and dairy industries, and using real leather allows these materials to be repurposed rather than discarded, honoring the full use of the animal by turning waste into something functional and enduring.

It is durable, repairable, and designed to last.

Leather is an exceptionally tough material that often gets better with age. It can withstand decades of wear and tear and typically requires only simple maintenance. Most upkeep can be done at home using natural care solutions, like our Revive Leather Cream.

It biodegrades far more readily than plastic-based alternatives. 

Depending on the tanning method, animal-derived leather can biodegrade after about 5 to 100 years. Vegan leathers can take up to ten times longer to break down, leaving behind harmful microplastics that pollute the environment in the process. 

It supports repair, reuse, and circularity. 

Leather scraps and offcuts can be reused as stuffing or to create composite materials, such as leatherboard used in footwear. Once a product has reached the end of its useful life, real leather products can be broken down for scrap leather, upcycled, or ground down and re-formed into recycled leather materials.

- Why Our Leathers Are Different -

At BED|STÜ, leather is only a sustainable choice when it is responsibly sourced and thoughtfully processed. That’s why we work with leathers selected for durability and treated using production methods designed to minimize harmful chemical use. From tanning to dyeing, our focus is on creating leather goods that are better for the people who make and wear them and better for the planet over time.

Our leathers are full grain, the highest quality leather grade.

Full grain leather retains the natural structure of the hide, resulting in greater strength, durability, and a longer lifespan.

Our leathers are vegetable tanned.

Vegetable tanning uses plant-based tannins and avoids chrome salts and formaldehyde, reducing harmful chemical exposure for both workers and the environment.

We use only naturally derived dyes and finishes, not synthetic coatings.

These finishes minimize toxic chemical use while preserving the leather’s ability to breathe, wear in, and be repaired.

- The Bottom Line -

“Vegan leather” is often marketed as a sustainable, high-quality alternative to real leather, but the reality is far less appealing. Beneath the branding, it is simply plastic in sheep’s clothing. For anyone looking to invest in comfort, durability, and materials that support long-term sustainability, real leather is the clearer, more responsible choice.

February 9, 2026