How The Leather Industry is Changing
The Coronavirus has changed and continues to change many aspects of our world. These changes have directly impacted our lives. This also applies to the many companies and industries that play a huge role in our society. Not all of these changes are negative, but in the case of the leather industry, they definitely weren’t postive.
The production of leather decreased dramatically over quarantine. Within the United States, the leather industry declined by 31% between the years 2019 and 2020. This percentage is calculated by the difference in sales from cattle hides, pig skins, and semi-processed leather products. However, the leather products that were sold during this time had an average of a 25% decline in value. This means that not only did the leather industry decline in production rates, but they lost sales due to a decrease in value. Given that the United States is the second-largest leather exporting country in the industry, the ramifications of this decline were felt around the globe.
However, as the pandemic continued to run its course, the industry ended up changing for the better. Sustainability and eco-friendly products became more and more popular and the fight for climate change awareness grew as the world was forced to see the effects of unsustainable practices. Quarantine allowed leather brands to take the time and rethink their impact on the environment. Many brands have begun releasing sustainable products. But on the other hand, many are still turning their backs towards eco-friendly processes.
Many leather production companies are now using vegetable tanning processes. This has been a major shift in the industry since vegetable tanning takes 2-3 months to complete. Whereas chrome tanning, the most commonly used process, can be completed in a single day. Vegetable tanning uses tannins from trees and plants, particularly bark and leaves. Meanwhile, chrome tanning uses acidic salts and chromium tanning agents. This is a danger to the environment due to the dumping of leftover chromium water from the process, which then leads to the pollution of rivers and tributaries. While vegetable tanning was the first process used to create leather, Chrome tanning quickly took over due to the short processing time. Companies are now turning back towards vegetable tanning because of its environmental impact.
Other companies have started developing eco-friendly leather products, such as leather that is biodegradable or made with alternative materials. Anye Hindmarch launched her “Return To Nature” collection that is biodegradable during the wave of sustainability in the leather industry. Their leather is chrome, heavy-metal, and aldehyde-free. This allows the entire bag to decompose in roughly 45 days. Hindmarch claims that the company doesn’t want to add any more waste to landfills. Instead, they strive to make items that can last forever. Pictured below are the different styles of totes, cross bodies, and varied-sized bucket bags offered by the brand.
Other companies are creating alternative leather products as well. Faux or vegan leather has been around since the 1920s. These alternative leathers are made using cotton and plastic substances to bind the leather fabric. Due to this form of leather not being environmentally friendly, companies have recently started creating other leather alternatives. These leather products can be created using mushrooms, cork, cactus, or fruits. These forms of vegan leather are sustainable and processed in an environmentally safe manner.
While the changes that the leather industry is making are better for the environment, we must understand their intentions. Due to the industry dramatically declining during the height of the pandemic, companies are trying to regain their production rates. As the United States emerged from quarantine, sustainability became even more important. The same companies who are recovering from its effects, turned towards more sustainable options to increase sales. However, not all companies are using eco-friendly products as a gimmick to attract customers. Brands such as Anye Hindmarch truly care about what they leave behind. Ultimately, it is those companies that are changing the leather industry towards a more “green” future.