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The fur industry is often in the crosshairs (justifiably, to say the least) while the $1.5-billion-and-100-million-animal-skins-per-year U.S. leather industry enjoys a long cool reputation. Fonzie wore leather. Brando wore leather. The Ramones wore leather. What could possibly be wrong with leather? I'm very glad you asked and invite you to read on for a leather report. But, in the spirit of optimism and positivity, for every downside of leather explained, I'll offer an eco-alternative to keep you smiling.
To paraphrase Abbie Hoffman, going green is not about sacrifice. Every time you discover that something you once liked is not good for the planet, you simultaneously discover 1000 new ways to enjoy the experience, the subversive pleasure of independent thought. You get your chance to dig the Warhol vibe for it was Andy himself who said: "I admit to having worn suede and leather myself for a while, but you just never felt clean, and it's degenerate anyway to use animal skins."
"It is time for bunny huggers and tree huggers to unite and throw out the leather Birkenstocks," says PETA's Poorva Joshipura. "There's nothing 'natural' about poisoning the Earth to make shoes, purses, and belts from animals' skins."
On that upbeat note, I offer...
Your Guide to Enjoying 15 Minutes of Eco-Fame
Reason #1 Why Leather is Not Cool: The leather industry exerts a massive carbon footprint. As a matter of fact, it consumes as much energy (per unit produced) as the aluminum, paper, steel, cement, and petroleum-manufacturing industries. Some point to petroleum-based leather alternatives (e.g. "pleather") as also having a deep footprint. Well, that depends on the specific alternative and, of course, this argument ignores the cruelty factor (see numbers 4 and 5 below).
Leather Alternative to Try: Lower-footprint motorcycle jacket.
Reason #2 Why Leather is Not Cool: The leather industry is highly toxic. Thanks to the chrome tanning process, the subsequent waste contains chromium (considered hazardous by the EPA). In addition, highly elevated levels of lead, cyanide, and formaldehyde have been found in the ground water near tanneries and according to a study released by the New York State Department of Health, more than half of all testicular cancer victims work in tanneries
Leather Alternative to Try: Non-leather hiking boots.
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Reason #3 Why Leather is Not Cool: The leather industry pollutes undeveloped countries, too. "Like every other industry, tanneries have shifted their operations from developed to undeveloped nations, where labor is cheap and environmental regulations are lax," writes Bruce Friedrich of PETA, citing an investigation into India's tanneries that found "workers in just hideous conditions, forced to breath and touch the entire gamut of toxins, all of which were then dumped into rivers for nearby villagers to drink."
Leather Alternative to Try: Eco-Friendly Wallet.
Reason #4 Why Leather is Not Cool: Leather is a slaughterhouse and dairy industry byproduct. "It's dead animal skin, which means that animal has to be raised: fed, watered, pastured, and eventually slaughtered," explains Collin Dunn. "Most leather (about 66% of it) comes from cows, and it takes 8 acres of land, 12,000 pounds of forage, 125 gallons of gasoline & other petroleum derivatives for fertilizer, 2,500 pounds of corn, 350 pounds of soybeans, 1.2 million gallons of water & 1.5 acres of farmland (to grow the crops for feed), plus various insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics & hormones to grow one cow from an 80 pound calf to its full size, when it can be slaughtered and the hide harvested."
Leather Alternative to Try: Cruelty-free baseball glove.
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Reason #5 Why Leather is Not Cool: Leather is cruel. Another tactic for procuring animal skins is hunting. Species such as zebras, bison, water buffaloes, boars, deer, kangaroos, elephants, eels, sharks, dolphins, seals, walruses, frogs, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes are murdered solely for their hides. These animals are often endangered or illegally poached--and death is rarely swift or painless. Alligators are clubbed with axes and hammers and may suffer for hours. Reptiles are skinned alive to achieve suppleness in the leather and may take days to die. Kid goats are boiled alive.
Leather Alternative to Try: Non-leather fetish wear. ("To eroticize dead animals is gross," says Adam Hodgins of the gay activist group, Triangle Trash.)
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