Vegan leather is artificial, synthetic, or “faux” leather made from agricultural waste products and sustainable biomaterials. It can also be made from polymers like polyurethane and other recyclable materials. Vegan leather is an alternative to animal leather and is made without using any animal products.
Vegan leather is often made from polyurethane, a polymer that can be made to order for any designer's whim. It can also be made from innovative and sustainable materials such as pineapple leaves, cork, apple peels, other fruit waste, and recycled plastic and used to create products that put animal skins to shame.
Vegan leather is a replication leather that isn't made with animal products. Some of this 'pleather' as it is sometimes known looks so close to the real thing that is can cause many people to ask - is faux leather vegan in its entirety? The answer is that yes, it is.
Vegan leather is available in many different qualities, and much like real leather, the higher the quality, the longer it will last. Even when of great grade, faux leather is often less expensive and of lower quality than real leather. Vegan leather is far less durable than real leather.
Synthetic vegan leather is made from petroleum-based plastics, most commonly: polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC). Like all plastics, PU and PVC are derived from petroleum or natural gas.
Vegan leather is not as durable as traditional leather, so it may not last as long. Additionally, vegan leather can be difficult to clean and care for, so you will need to take extra care of your vegan leather products. Finally, vegan leather does not age well, so it may not look as good after a few years.
Vegan leather seems like the obvious ethical and environmentally friendly approach to a US$40 billion leather industry that mistreats animals, exposes workers to harmful chemicals, and pollutes. But we're calling vegan leather's bluff. Vegan leather isn't always best for the planet, workers, or animals.
Generally, vegan leather (specifically plant-based leather) is cheaper than traditional leather. This is because products like mushrooms and pineapples require less room and time to mature than cattle, and plant-based leathers are often produced from the waste parts of plants.
Faux leather, also known as faux leatherette or vegan leather, is a man-made material made to mimic the appearance and texture of real leather. However, because it is not real animal hide, it can be prone to peeling over time as the materials break down.
Is vegan leather durable? Vegan leather products have a shelf life of approximately 2-5 years. The material is generally not as long-lasting as real leather.
Vegan leather is an alternative to animal leather and is made without using any animal products. It's environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and animal-cruelty-free.
Cowhide leather is the most common kind of leather you can find on market and usually one of the cheapest because the production is quite simple and inexpensive.
That's why Tesla made waves in 2019 when founder Elon Musk announced that, going forward, all Tesla interiors would be free of animal products and made from cloth or vegan leather instead. Since then, every Tesla's interior has been retrofitted to be free of animal products.
There are so many cruelty-free, chic, eco-friendly vegan leather options available today. By opting for animal-free goods over leather ones, you're helping to save lives. Click below to shop: Vegan leather jackets >>
—one clear answer comes from the relative materials' longevity. When comparing how long faux leather last and how long does vegan leather last, it's clear that vegan leathers tend to be more durable than pleather, or plastic leather, the most well-known faux leather, and therefore last longer.
Vegan Doc Martens are made from synthetic polyurethane plastic. They don't quite feel like leather but they definitely don't feel like plastic either. They feel soft and bendable, pretty similar to the leather ones.
Faux (and vegan) leather can take a lot more soaking than animal leather and still be absolutely fine. The reason for this is that it is made of a polyurethane plastic (or sometimes pineapple and apple) and has the strong water-resistant qualities of that material. In most cases, water won't do it any harm at all.
Good news: vegan leather is very frequently waterproof. This is the upside of it either being made of, or being finished with, synthetics. Where animal leather might require waterproofing sprays, traditionally made vegan leather rarely does. Piñatex, for example, is water-resistant, if not entirely waterproof.
Microfibers or 'vegan leather' should also be cleaned with a wet cloth and some soap. However, we do recommend using colorless, polishing cream or the same color as the material. Apply a small amount using a dry cloth and spread it gently. Let it simply dry for 24 hours.
Is synthetic (artificial) leather waterproof? So, is faux leather waterproof? Well, synthetic and faux leather products are made from plastics and are generally waterproof as a result. The most common plastics used are PVC and PU, two petroleum-based plastics.
In the event your vegan leather stains or gets dirty, start with a spot treatment. Wipe all surfaces with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Then, gently spot treat stains with warm water and a few drops of mild dish detergent. Wipe away any excess solution and allow the item to completely dry before use.
So Which Type is Best? Among real leathers, full grain leather is by far the best in terms of quality. Unlike the other grains, full grain has not been separated from the top grain or split layers, and is therefore the strongest and most dependable type of leather.
For non-meat eaters who do buy leather, the rationale is usually something like this: if meat is being produced anyway, and it generates a handy by-product such as leather, why not use it rather than waste it?
Synthetic leather such as PVC is not breathable – think sweaty, stinky feet. The quality can vary making vegan leather less durable. PVC and PU can't biodegrade.
If it's plastic-based, some say it'll last two to five years on average, though there are reviews that claim longer for items like handbags that see less wear and tear. Keep in mind that when the vegan leather contains plastic, it's not biodegradable and will release small plastic particles as it decomposes.