The ethical dilemma of leather

Whether or not people choose to wear leather often depends on how they feel about the ethics of the meat industry. But it’s not uncommon for strict veggies to be ok with wearing it – considering it as a by-product of meat farming.

Some argue that it is a form of recycling, after all if the animal is going to be killed, surely a “waste not, want not” attitude is the best idea? Especially when it provides such a durable material that can be used for years to come.

Or maybe not. The answer really lies in how comfortable you are with feeding money back into the meat industry. Leather is a multi-billion dollar industry, where the skin of a cow is actually worth about 10% of the animal’s total value.

Leather can be a very profitable trade, which isn’t always the case with meat. In other words, the leather trade isn’t totally dependent on our appetite for meat.

Those who buy strictly free-range or organic meat might also find they are facing an ethical problem. Most of the leather used in the US and Europe comes from China, India and countries where there are little or no animal legislation laws. In fact, when it comes to quality leather the softest, most expensive, variety comes from the skin of newborn or even unborn calves.

Vegetarian shoes and bags might have a reputation for being less than cutting-edge fashion, but that’s not to say there aren’t good options out there. It seems strange that, at a time when so many designers are jumping on the ethical bandwagon, a leather jacket is still one of this year’s ‘must-have’ items.

Get more green and ethical living advice at bbcgreen.com