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Leather
Introduction
Most of us would have grown up wearing or using leather, whether it was leather shoes for school or a leather wallet or jacket. But where does leather come from and what must the animals endure for these products? Below, we explain why killing animals for their skin’s is cruel and how to be leather free!
Where does leather come from?
Most of the world’s leather supply comes from countries like India and China – which have minimal and sometimes no animal protection laws. Although leather is commonly associated with cow’s skin, numerous other animals are abused and slaughtered for their skins. Some of these include:
- Pigs
- Sheep
- Goats
- Deer
- Horses
- Kangaroos
- Ostriches
- Stingrays
- Crocodiles and other reptiles
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In some parts of Asia, dogs and cats are killed for their skin and many of them are skinned alive. In Australia, thousands of wild kangaroos are shot and skinned, often for nothing more than their skins. If you wear leather because you think it is simply a by-product of animals that were killed for food, think again.
Road to hell
Animals raised for their skins are subjected to a life of pain and misery. They are crammed into filthy sheds, subjected to painful mutilations including dehorning, branding, disbudding, tail docking and castration all without any pain relief. In India, workers rub hot chilli peppers and tobacco into the cow’s eyes and twist and break their tail bones in order to make them move.
Exhausted and frightened, animals are often forced to travel long distances by road or sea in all weather conditions to the slaughterhouse. On arrival to the slaughterhouse, many of the animals are too weak or sick to walk off the truck and are cruelly dragged inside where they have their throats slit, some animals are dismembered while still conscious.
Dangerous Chemicals
The production of leather requires the use of many toxic chemicals including formaldehyde (a known carcinogen), coal tar derivatives, sulphides, oils, dyes, and acids which are hazardous to human health. Chemicals used in tanneries have been linked with causing leukaemia, nervous system disorders, skin and respiratory infections and other diseases. Tannery emissions frequently end up in waterways causing ecological damage.
Going Leather Free
Going leather free these days is really not as hard as you may think. Most major department and discount stores have a good selection of synthetic shoes, handbags, wallets and accessories – try Target, Big W or Kmart. Surf shops also sell a good range of synthetic belts and canvas shoes.
Popular sporting brands, including Nike, New Balance and Converse, produce an array of quality synthetic shoes at affordable prices. If you are unsure about the origin of a product, be sure to check the tag on the inside of the shoe. Simply look for “all manmade materials”, “canvas” or “synthetic”.
Act Now -
- Don’t purchase leather products; Instead go for an equally stylish synthetic or pleather (fake leather) alternative.
- Encourage family and friends to avoid leather products.
- Refuse to support the abusive meat and leather industries by going vegan. Remember, on average, a vegan saves approximately 100 animal lives each year!!
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