Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Leather Footwear!
Leather is largely made from cowhide or other animal skins (sheep, pig, horse, deer, and exotic animals such as kangaroo, crocodile, snake and seal) which go through intensive treatment processes and come out as products we use – handbags, shoes, clothes, and a whole host more.
Saying ‘no’ to the use of leather is not only doing the animals a favor, but promoting compassion and cruelty-free living. The Leather Industries of America trade associations have actually stated that there are very few animals which are raised specifically for leather, in other words, it’s merely a by-product of rampant animal cruelty. In today’s world where alternatives to everything are available (alternatives not just to usables, but even intangibles such as a lifestyle!) finding eco-friendly alternatives to leather abound.
What about synthetic leather?
Synthetic leather or faux leather or leather is usually derived through a process which uses petroleum and thus these are not always eco-friendly alternatives. And discarding leather products isn’t always a good idea as the tanning process makes most leather non-biodegradable. Some of the viable and easily available alternatives to leather are cotton, hemp (a strong and flexible eco-fiber that is a renewable resource that doesn’t require any toxic chemicals for cultivation), cork, jute (it’s used mainly in making shoes and bags), and re-used rubber.
Will I get eco-friendly non-leather goods?
A whole range of goods such as shoes, boots, clothes, make-up, accessories, musical instruments, raw materials and toys are available in other fabrics and from other substances that are eco-friendly. Three other, lesser-known forms of co-friendly leather alternatives are: Vegetan (this is a patented trade name for a type of micro-fiber), cork leather (this is acquired form the bark of Cork Oak trees), and ocean leather (a leather that is actually made from sea kelp).
And if leather is absolutely necessary for you then look out for Ahimsa Leather is the humane thing to do. This is special leather made only from dead animal skin, thus not killing the animal or subjecting it to cruel killing practices. And frankly, its guilt free too!
Breast Cosmetics from St.Botanica
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