Recycled leather: A way to sustainable fashion
Sustainability is crucial in the modern world, with every industry, from food to fashion, contributing to it. Sustainability involves fulfilling our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In this article, we will discuss the sustainable use of leather in the fashion industry, focusing on the use of recycled leather material. We will explore how recycled leather is transforming the sustainable use of this already Eco-friendly material called real leather.
Table of Contents
what is recycled leather?
Recycled leather, also known as reclaimed leather material is obtained from leather scraps and offcuts from the leather industry, or from discarded leather articles such as old, out-of-fashion, or otherwise rejected leather goods. These scrap pieces of leather can be processed to create a new leather-like material or directly repurposed into other articles. For instance, if half of a leather jacket is severely damaged, instead of discarding it, the remaining leather can be used to make something else.
However, in the leather industry, the term “recycled leather” has a specific meaning. Recycled leather refers to a leather-like material made from scrap pieces of leather. This is the primary focus of our discussion here: how recycled leather is transforming the sustainable use of this already eco-friendly material. Moreover, this recycled leather falls under the category of bonded leather.
How recycled leather is made?
How these unwanted leather scrap pieces are transformed into this sustainable material that is called recycled leather-like material that can be used in various applications, reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry. Here is the step by step overview of the process.
1.| Collection of scrap
Leather scraps and wastage is collected from various leather goods manufacturing facilities or waste handling units
2.| Shredding
Scrap leather pieces are put into shredders to create fine fibers, or sometimes they are shredded into a fine, powder-like leather material which will be further processed.
3.| Bonding
Now that shredded leather is mixed with some kind of bonding material like natural rubber or resin to make a homogeneous mixture
4.| Pressing
Now the mixture of shredded leather and bonding material is pressed on a cotton or polyester backing material to make recycled leather sheep of desired thickness
5.| Finishing
Final phase of production process of recycled leather is finishing which involves embossing the surface with uniform pattern, polishing, buffing, dyeing, etc.
Recycled leather vs real leather
To be frank, there is a significant difference between recycled leather and real leather. Unlike real leather, recycled leather can be embossed with desired textures, but it cannot match the surface properties, strength, and durability of real leather. While recycled leather falls under the genuine leather category, it is considered low-quality leather because it is a mixture of leather and other substances.
Recycled leather vs vegan leather
Recycled leather is also different from vegan leather, such as polyurethane (PU) leather. Vegan leather, such as PU leather, is less sustainable than recycled leather because it is a fully synthetic material made from plastic polymers. In contrast, recycled leather is partially made from organic animal skin mixed with other substances.
Pros and cons of recycles leather material
Certainly! Recycled leather material, like any other thing comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Despite having so many pros, recycled leather material is not fully untouchable from the cons
Pros
1.| Sustainability
By utilizing scraps, we can decrease the demand for new animal hides, thus reducing waste that would otherwise pollute our planet earth by ending up in landfills.
2.| Cost
One major advantage of repurposed leather is that it costs significantly less than genuine leather, sometimes a fraction of the price of real animal hides. You can enjoy many of the qualities of real leather by using recycled leather
3.| Versatility
Recycled leather is indeed versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications where real leather is typically utilized, and it often maintains a similar appearance
4.| Consistency
Recycled leather often appeals to many individuals because, unlike real leather, it possesses a uniform surface texture that can be achieved through artificial embossing.
Cons
1.| Durability
One significant drawback of recycled leather compared to real leather is its durability. Recycled leather typically does not match the longevity and robustness of genuine animal hide. It tends to wear out more quickly over time, making it less durable for long-term use.
2.| Maintenance
Recycled leather typically requires more maintenance and care compared to real leather because of its lower strength and durability. Dust and moisture can indeed cause more damage to recycled leather, making regular cleaning and protection essential to preserve its appearance and longevity.
3.| Limited availability
Unlike real leather, artificial leather is not widely available everywhere and people often end up buying Polyurethane leather instead of recycled animal leather products
4.| Potential allergic reaction
Some individuals prone to allergic reactions may experience adverse reactions from the artificial binders used in certain recycled leathers, such as polyurethane or other chemicals
Types of recycled leather
There are 3 major types of reused leathers that comes under the recycled leather category
1.| Bonded leather
Bonded leather is indeed a type of recycled leather. It’s made by shredding real leather scraps and mixing them with binders to create a leather-like material
2.| Up cycled leather
Upcycled use of leather involves using leftover scrap leather parts or waste to create new products to help reduce waste.
3.| Genuine leather offcuts
In this type of recycled leather, leftover parts or discarded genuine leather is used to make comparatively smaller leather goods.
Uses of recycled leather
Recycled leather material is so versatile that it can be used in many places. Some of them are listed below:
1.| Fashion and apparel
It can be used to make jackets, pants, skirts and other clothing
2.| Upholstery
It can be used to make home furniture and automobile seats
3.| Automotive interiors
Cost-effective auto-interiors for instance bonded leather is used on dashboards, door trims, etc. in cheaper cars
4.| Footwear
It can be used to make various type sof footwear like boots, shoes, sandals, etc.
5.| Home décor
Can be used to make wall coverings, leather animals, photo frames and many more
6.| Stationery
It can be used to cover books, journals, phone covers, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, If you ask me if real leather has any alternative, I would say that real leather holds a special charm that cannot be replicated by any artificial material. Leather’s natural essence and the uniqueness of each skin give it an irreplaceable character. While pineapple leather is a sustainable option, can it replace real leather? In my view, nothing can replace the authenticity of natural leather.
However, recycled leather is used when the price is a significant deciding factor or when you don’t need that extra strength and durability of real leather for instance fast fashion items.
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