Leather Biodegradability: A Key to Sustainable Fashion
We often hear about massive floating "islands" of plastic polluting our oceans. But have you ever wondered why leather is never a part of that conversation?
One simple reason: leather is a natural, biodegradable material. Unlike plastic, which lingers in the environment for centuries, leather naturally breaks down at the end of its life.
When produced using natural or biobased tanning agents and biodegradable additives, leather can decompose in industrial composting in as little as 20 days (as highlighted in Karl Flowers’ article, “Opportunities at Leather’s End-of-Life,” ILM, Sep-Oct 2024). That’s a timeframe comparable to vegetable waste, which takes 5–30 days!
Let’s be clear: all materials eventually biodegrade, but what sets leather apart is its ability to decompose quickly (20–60 days) and safely for the environment, transforming — under the right conditions1 — into compost that enriches the soil with vital nutrients.
This unique feature makes leather not only a valuable part of the circular economy, but also one of the most sustainable fashion materials. And that’s just one of many reasons to choose leather!
Find out more about it through this Metaskills article !
