2026-04-08 21:00 UTC
What's the latest on the impact of #leather vs. no leather? I'm a #vegetarian and I tend to avoid leather shoes because I want to minimise animal deaths and suffering. But non-leather clothes still have an environmental impact and are much less durable, and a lot of leather is a byproduct of the meat industry. So I've always wondered if in a life-cycle analysis, using leather was overall better.
#LazyWeb
Replies (2)
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@gedankenstuecke@scholar.social 2026-04-09 02:06
@eliocamp not a proper scientific analysis, but my own anecdata (+I'm vegetarian too). I've found that leather shoes (and bags) are just so much more durable and repairable than any plastic-based alternatives. Recently got a pair fixed with new soles after those gave up after something like 8000+ km walked in it. All leather-alternatives I've ever had didn't make it that long and can't be fixed as it's the upper non-leather parts that break.
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@utrenkner@mastodon.green 2026-04-09 06:35
@eliocamp I asked myself the same question, recently, when I had to replace my vegan Birkenstock sandals. Eventually, I went with real leather, because they seem to last much longer. Thus, I am interested in the answers in this thread, too.