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There are lots of different types of vegan leather out there, including polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, leather. While PVC leather doesn’t use animal products, its advantages pretty much stop there.
This synthetic leather material contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals, including phthalates, lead, and cadmium. These chemicals can harm our health and contribute to pollution.
What’s more, PVC is a petroleum-based plastic material, which doesn’t biodegrade. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called PVC one of the most hazardous consumer products in use today.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop more than 40 million tons of PVC from being produced per year. If you’re looking for an alternative to animal leather, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of PVC leather and to consider safer and more sustainable alternatives.
What Is PVC Leather?
PVC leather is a synthetic material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a type of plastic. It’s also known as vinyl leather, faux leather, or pleather.
This PVC leather material is designed to look and feel like genuine leather. It’s more affordable and is commonly used to make furniture, clothing, and accessories such as bags and shoes.
Pros
Before getting into the dangers of PVC leather, let’s consider a few of its advantages.
- Affordable: PVC leather usually costs less than animal leather.
- Low maintenance: This synthetic material is easy to clean, water resistant, and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
- Versatile: This faux leather can be easily turned into different shapes and designs, including clothing, furniture, and other applications. .
- No animal products: PVC leather is synthetic, so it doesn’t use animal hides like real leather does.
Cons
Unfortunately, the cons of PVC leather significantly outweigh the pros.
- Environmental impact: PVC is a petroleum-based plastic that’s not biodegradable and can release harmful chemicals into the environment when it’s produced and thrown out.
- Health risks: It also contains chemicals and heavy metals which can be hazardous to our health.
- Durability: PVC leather can crack or peel over time.
- Breathability: It’s not always breathable and can feel uncomfortable and plasticky when you wear it for a long time.
How Is PVC Leather Made?
PVC leather is made by coating a layer of PVC resin onto a fabric or paper backing. That resin is then treated with plasticizers and other additives to make it more flexible and similar to leather. The resulting material has a smooth surface that’s similar to animal leather.
Why PVC Leather Is Called the “Poison Plastic”
While some brands advertise PVC leather as “vegan leather,” it’s not exactly a healthy or sustainable choice. In fact, it’s sometimes called the “poison plastic,” because PVC contains toxic chemicals like phthalates and heavy metals like lead and cadmium. It’s made from vinyl chloride, which is a known carcinogen.
These chemicals harm our health and the environment, both during the production process and when we wear and dispose of PVC leather products. PVC leather also isn’t biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill.
If it’s burned, it can release dioxins, which are highly toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive and developmental problems. Many environmental and health advocates are calling for the fashion and other industries to phase out PVC leather and turn to more sustainable materials instead.
Is PVC Leather Vegan?
PVC leather is often marketed as a vegan alternative to genuine leather, since it’s made from synthetic materials instead of animal hides. While some brands want us to think it’s an eco-friendly alternative to real leather, this term is clearly misleading due to PVC’s toxic nature.
Fortunately, there are other options for vegan leather that are more sustainable alternatives, including plant-based and biodegradable leather materials made from mushrooms, apple, and even cactus.
5 Main Dangers of PVC Leather
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly makes this synthetic material so risky.
- Toxic chemicals: As mentioned, PVC leather can contain harmful chemicals and metals like phthalates, lead, and cadmium.
- Off-gassing: New PVC leather can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
- Fire hazards: This plastic leather is pretty flammable and can release toxic fumes if it burns..
- Environmental impact: It’s not biodegradable, so it contributes to the plastic and fast fashion landfill problems we have.
- Skin irritation: If you have sensitive skin, you might get a rash or other reaction to this material.
Some Global Statistics on PVC Leather
Despite the harmful impact of this material, PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world. Here are some important facts and statistics on PVC:
- Global production of PVC is estimated at over 40 million tons per year and could grow to over 60 million tons by 2025.
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PVC is one of the most hazardous consumer products in use today.
- The Greenpeace Toxic Threads report found that pthalates in PVC cause major losses to both the indoor and outdoor environment.
- The fashion industry is responsible for 8 – 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of global wastewater. Switching to more sustainable materials could help reduce these impacts.
What Are Some Safer and More Sustainable Alternatives?
If you’re a fan of the look and feel of leather but don’t want to wear animal products, don’t despair. There are some more eco-friendly alternatives. Here are a few more sustainable alternatives to PVC:
- Cork leather: Cork leather is made from the bark of cork oak trees and is biodegradable.
- Hemp leather: Made from the fibers of the hemp plant, hemp leather is durable and can be produced without harmful chemicals.
- Mushroom leather: Made from mycelium, mushroom leather can be biodegradable and compostable and looks similar to real leather.
- Apple leather: This is made from the cores and skins of apples that are discarded during the juicing process.
- Cactus leather: Cactus leather is made from the leaves of the nopal cactus, a drought-resistant plant. It’s soft, durable, and water-resistant.
Keep in mind that plant-based leathers can still be harmful if the manufacturer uses inorganic chemicals, petroleum-based binding materials, or toxic dyes. But some manufacturers use natural dyes and water-based binding agents.
Opting for plant-based vegan leathers from ethical manufacturers can help you reduce your environmental impact and encourage a more sustainable fashion industry.
PVC vs. PU Leather
Besides PVC leather, PU leather is a popular synthetic leather in the fashion, upholstery, and other industries. PU leather is made by applying polyurethane to a base material, such as fabric or sometimes, leftover cowhide leather.
PVC leather tends to be more glossy, whereas PU leather has a more matte appearance. Both types of leather use petroleum-based plastics, so neither are good for the environment.
However, PU leather usually doesn’t involve as many toxic chemicals as PVC and can sometimes be recycled more easily. Because of this, PU leather isn’t considered quite as toxic as its PVC counterpart.
Final Thoughts
While PVC leather doesn’t use animal products, it’s benefits mainly stop there. Greenpeace, the EPA, and other domestic and international organizations have found PVC to be damaging to the environment and toxic to our health.
If you’re looking for a leather alternative, a plant-based leather made with eco-conscious production practices would be the more sustainable choice.
While you’re at it, check out these easy ways to use less plastic in your daily life.
FAQ
Is PVC leather waterproof?
PVC leather is usually waterproof and can be used in products like rain jackets, boots, and bags.
Is PVC leather breathable?
Usually, no. This synthetic material doesn’t have much air flow and can be uncomfortable if you’re wearing it in hot weather or for a long period of time.
Is PVC leather environmentally friendly?
Nope. It’s made from plastic and can release toxic chemicals. It’s also not biodegradable and can contribute to waste in landfills.
