The Environmental Impact of Vegan Leather vs. Conventional Leather

If you’ve ever found yourself eyeing that buttery-soft leather bag and wondering, “Can I do better—for the planet, for the animals, for my values?”—you’re not alone.

When I first started my sustainability journey, I started to get curious not only about the ethical aspect of wearing leather, but its environmental impact. I used to think real leather was just a byproduct of the meat industry, so I didn’t question it much. It wasn’t until I dug a little deeper that I realized how much more there is to the story. Spoiler alert: conventional leather is far from eco-friendly.