Leather is made from the hide or skin of animals. While most people associate leather with cow skin, many other animals’ skins are turned into leather, including: buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, kangaroos, deer, and even cats and dogs.
There are also so-called “luxury” and “exotic” leathers made from the skin of animals like calves, ostriches, alligators, sharks, elephants, lizards, stingrays and zebras.
Leather is often viewed—even by vegans—as “just a byproduct of the meat industry.” However, this is entirely inaccurate.
Leather sourced from the meat and dairy industries is actually a profitable coproduct (rather than byproduct). The leather industry and meat and dairy industries are economically interdependent.
Most leather products come from countries without even the most basic of animal welfare legislation or enforcement. However, no matter the country or regulations, the leather industry is responsible for abject animal cruelty.
Is leather just a byproduct of the meat industry? The answer may surprise you. Learn about where leather comes from, what leather is made of, whether leather supports animal cruelty, and the environmental devastation and public health threat of leather production.
What is vegan leather made of? In this guide to vegan leather alternatives, learn about the growing number of plant-based and bioleathers, the history of synthetic leather, and the debate over whether any leather alternative is truly sustainable.
What is vegan leather made of? In this guide to vegan leather alternatives, learn about the growing number of plant-based and bioleathers, the history of synthetic leather, and the debate over whether any leather alternative is truly sustainable.
Read more about A Guide to Vegan Leather & Sustainable Vegan Leather Alternatives
Is leather just a byproduct of the meat industry? The answer may surprise you. Learn about where leather comes from, what leather is made of, whether leather supports animal cruelty, and the environmental devastation and public health threat of leather production.
Read more about Is Leather a Byproduct of the Meat Industry?
Could “test tube burgers” spell the end of animal exploitation? A solution to our environmental crisis? Find out why this is such a hot-button issue within the vegan community as we look at the pros and cons of lab grown meat.
Read more about Is Lab Grown Meat Vegan?
Defensive lineman David Carter was a meat-eating, milk-guzzling, BBQ-loving football player. About the furthest from vegan you could find. Then he saw a documentary and everything changed.
Read more about 300 lb VEGAN NFL Football Player?! | David Carter Interview
Leonardo da Vinci was the quintessential renaissance man: artist, inventor, botanist, engineer, architect, historian, geologist, and…vegan? Learn about da Vinci’s lesser-known contributions to the fields of animal rights and ethical veganism.
Read more about Was Leonardo da Vinci VEGAN? | The History of Veganism Spotlight
The Renaissance was a time of innovation and revolution within art, architecture, politics, science, astronomy, literature, and—veganism? Learn how the rise of humanistic individuality led to the acknowledgement of non-humans as individuals as well.
Read more about Vegans In The Renaissance | The History of Veganism Part Three
