vegan faux leather vs synthetic leather or pleather, pu leather, polyurethane, pvc, vinyl, leatherette - what is the difference?
Vegan faux leather is a generic term for materials that do not use animal hides and can replace animal leather.
SYNTHETIC LEATHER
Synthetic leather is a broad term encompassing all man-made materials. The most commonly used synthetic leathers are polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Made from synthetic plastic polymers and fossil fuels using large amounts of chemicals, water and energy to produce. A plastic coating bonded to a fabric backing is the most common method. These materials undergo intensive chemical processing to add color, texture and protective coatings so they can look and feel like leather.
PU leather (also known as polyurethane, pleather and leatherette)
Polyurethane or PU leather or pleather is made from synthetic plastic polymers and fossil fuels using large amounts of chemicals, water and energy to produce. A plastic coating bonded to a fabric backing is the most common method. These materials undergo intensive chemical processing to add color, texture and protective coatings so they can look and feel like leather. PU leather is “safer” to burn than PVC or vinyl as it contains significantly lower levels of VOCs.
PVC and vinyl leather have extremely high levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. They are also used for the chemicals in the production of faux leather in solvents such as petrol, alcohols etc. People can have reactions to VOC with symptoms of headaches, nausea, or fatigue. PVC releases dioxins (a group of chemical compounds that are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones), which are potentially dangerous in confined spaces and especially dangerous if burnt. It has been described by Greenpeace as the “single most environmentally damaging type of plastic”.
As these products end up in the landfills and start to break down, they leak these harmful dioxins back into the environment polluting our natural resources; our soil, drinking water, and our food chain impacting animals and humans, causing irreparable damage. Dioxins are known to cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems. PU leather takes over 500 years to decompose. Vinyl or PVC never decomposes.
Aiya ayiA does not use any synthetic leathers. We only use natural, vegan plant leather made of ingredients from renewable sources such as leftover coconut water, banana-sisal-hemp fibers and natural resins. Our materials are naturally dyed using flowers, tree bark, and spices and have no harmful coatings, no toxic chemicals, no petroleum, and no plastics.
