So many times while browsing Amazon, I will see things made out of vegan leather. I typically avoid that if I am looking for real leather. I already avoided anything made of PU leather, it just sounded nasty. Yeah…P U (stinky). LOL!
I was looking for a slightly larger purse than the one I have (and really like) and even when real leather in the search, vegan leather items were listed. I decided it was time to find out what vegan leather really was made from. Here is what I found out…
Vegan leather is a broad term encompassing any leather alternative not derived from animal products, while PU (polyurethane) leather is a specific type of synthetic leather that is commonly used within the vegan leather category. Essentially, PU leather is a subset of vegan leather, and it’s a common material used in making vegan leather products.
There are definitely pros and cons to both real and vegan leather. Vegan leather is generally considered more sustainable than genuine leather due to the elimination of animal products and the use of alternative materials. However, PU leather, while vegan, is a plastic-based material that raises environmental concerns. Plus, PU leather can be more prone to cracking and peeling over time, especially with lower-quality versions.
My final thoughts? I prefer real leather in items that I want to last my lifetime but if the price is too high, I will consider higher quality vegan leather items, especially if they won’t be subjected to heavy wear and tear.
What are your thoughts?
