does leather *really* come from beef cows?

[Kreeli]

i've heard a lot of people rationalize their use of leather with the idea that the skin is simply a discard from the cows that are slaughter for food.

is that true, or are there cows specifically bred for leather and leather only?

any links to info online about this would be appreciated.

[spud]

http://www.vegansociety.com/html/info/info22.html

some extracts from that ^ link to a leather info page

Fur is regarded as a cruel luxurious status symbol and little else. Leather does not always receive such condemnation. In fact it is often regarded as a practical by-product of the meat industry; environmentally sound; a quality product readily available to all. However, there is myth and ignorance surrounding its production. Here we provide the reasons why we should condemn leather as vociferously as we condemn fur.


Most leather in the UK is made from the skins of cattle, calves, sheep, lambs, goats and pigs. However, many other species are hunted and killed worldwide specifically for their skins. These include zebras, bison, water buffaloes, boars, deer, kangaroos, alligators, elephants, eels, sharks, dolphins, seals, walruses, frogs, crocodiles, lizards and snakes. Thousands of endangered olive ridley sea turtles are captured and butchered illegally in Mexico, solely for their skins. It is estimated that 25-30% of US imported crocodile shoe leather and other wildlife items are made from endangered illegally poached animals.


Leather & the Environment
The amount of waste and pollution generated by the leather manufacturing industry is phenomenal. The stench from a tannery is overwhelming. Not only do they pollute the air, however, they also pollute the rest of the environment with the use of a multitude of harsh toxic chemicals. One estimate puts the potential cost of an effluent treatment plant in a tannery at 30% of the total outlay proving just how much of a major problem it is.

Substances used in the manufacture of leather include: lime, sodium sulfate solution, emulsifiers, non-solvent degreasing agents, salt, formic acid, sulfuric acid, chromium sulfate salts, lead, zinc, formaldehyde, fats, alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, dyes, resin binders, waxes, coal tar derivatives and cyanide-based finishes. Tannery effluent also contains large amounts of other pollutants such as proteins, hair and salt.

The leather industry also uses a tremendous amount of energy. In fact on the basis of quantity of energy consumed per unit produced, the leather-manufacturing industry would be catergorised alongside the paper, steel, cement and petroleum manufacturing industries as a gross consumer of energy.



Meat & Leather
The type of meat that is purchased in the UK has a direct effect on the type of leather available for the leather manufacturing industry. If everybody decided they only wanted to eat young lambs under a month old, then the skin made available for the leather industry would be very thin, soft and pliable.

Soft Products or Better Leather from Babies
The younger the animal at the time of slaughter, the smoother and finer the grain structure and the less likelihood of damage due to scratches, parasite damage, ringworm, dung contamination, improper flaying or inadequate salting. The skin of a female is usually finer grained than that of the male and has a looser fibre structure giving a softer, stretchier leather.

[VealPrincess]

yes leather is a by-product of the meat industry.

I've gotten the question before "do they breed special "leather giving" cows?" and, the answer is no.

[Skylark]

Does the 'byproductness' of leather justify its use?

[Kreeli]

for some people, i guess it does, as i've heard it used as an excuse in debates about leather.

they say that the skins would simply be 'wasted' if people stopped buying leather.

[Skylark]

But as Spud pointed out, the tanning process might produce more waste than simply throwing out the hides would.

[Kreeli]

right. so then you end up in the whole ecological debate about whether the tanning process of leather, or the production of synthetic "leathers" (like PVC or plastics), creates more waste and pollution.

[spud]

from the Vegan soc leaflet-

The general public buy millions of tonnes of plastic products each year with very little thought. However, when it comes to purchasing one pair of synthetic shoes or boots, the very idea appears to be an anathema! Think of the number of washing up liquid or shampoo bottles every family uses in a month and one pair of good quality synthetic footwear really doesn't seem so bad after all! This isn't to say that purchasing a pair of synthetic shoes is going to be one of the most environmentally friendly acts of the year. However, those shoes or boots may last several years of heavy wear and tear before they have to be replaced. Good quality non-leather footwear is now easy to purchase. The days of a pair of plastic shoes lasting several weeks before they fall apart is over providing you choose well-made products. Of course, the best thing about non-leather footwear is that no animal suffered to produce them.

[VealPrincess]

Personally I think that if we are going to kill an animal, we should use as much of that animal as possible.

But I'm not a vegan, so maybe my opinion doesn't count (or matter).

[stonecrest]

Originally posted by VealPrincess
But I'm not a vegan, so maybe my opinion doesn't count (or matter).

talk about a cheap shot..

but anyway, i agree that if animals are to be used, they should be used as much as possible. but as has been said, if using more of the animal includes a very large increase in toxic chemical usage or energy consumption, then it might not be the best thing. despite not being vegan, i would assume that you do still care about the environment, correct?