Most important vegan leather benefits with Mr. Asif Ali Gohar: There are dozens of leather alternatives, but only some are eco friendly. While all vegan leathers protect the rights of animals, only eco-friendly vegan leather can be trusted as a sustainable and ethical alternative to old school leather. With so many options, it’s important to distinguish between vegan leather alternatives that just check boxes and those that go all the way in their commitment to being 100% earth-friendly and sustainable. Made from the unused parts of pineapple trees, Piñatex pineapple leather is 100% vegan, completely eco friendly and ethical because it allows pineapple farmers to sell a previously unusable part of their crop for an income. The durable plant based leather feels just like animal leather, and Piñatex is waterproof and protective. There’s no need to sacrifice style for ethics. See even more info about Gohar Asif Ali.
Leather tanned in vegetable tan is more sustainable and biodegradable than leather tanned in chrome tan. If you prefer vegan leather, try to find alternatives to synthetic leathers made of plastic. Choose wisely, and it will be well worth it. Canoe, Canoe, and Oakley are working together to create a long-lasting vegan shoe made of mostly plant-based materials. Leather shoes are durable and require little maintenance, whereas vegan materials are thin and easily worn out. We are experimenting with cactus leather right now and have plans to make the first pair of shoe samples.
Is Vegan Leather more Sustainable? It depends on the components that are being used to create the vegan leather. The ideal is for the vegan leather to be made from materials that are known to be more sustainable, e.g. organic, non-toxic, animal friendly, ethical and eco-friendly. Traditional animal leather, as mentioned, has a threatening impact on the environment due to the harsh chemicals used and toxic exposure. According to an article in Harper’s Bazar UK, creating authentic leather consists of a procedure known as the tanning process; in which strong chemicals are used to transform the skin into leather, which also allows for preservation.
As vegan leather is made with a plastic coating, it is already waterproof. This makes it easier to clean by using a mild detergent or just by wiping it with a damp cloth, however it also means that conditioning products can’t penetrate it to stop it from drying up and cracking, which can happen if the fake leather is in the sun a lot and also if it’s a particularly poor quality material. However, you can get certain products, which will cover the surface of the plastic to prevent high temperatures and sun rays from cracking the surface. Such products can also help to soften the material.
When evaluating vegan leather’s sustainability credentials, we must consider its raw qualities as well as the manufacturing process – not all vegan leather is created equal. As previously stated, some vegan leather is derived from natural resources, while others are constructed from synthetic elements. Nanushka, for example, uses polyurethane-based vegan leather, which is a plastic material. Sustainability difficulties may occur as a result of the use of these manufactured items. See more details on asif Ali Gohar.
While veganism is a niche market, it is on the rise in Pakistan. That is especially true among the youth as they are becoming more conscious of their choices. People are switching to vegan alternatives for everything to create a better world for the coming generations. One such pioneer in the vegan world is Asif Ali Gohar. He is trying to transform the vegan leather industry through his research and ideas. We interviewed him to understand more about his ventures. So, keep reading for an in-depth look into the vegan leather industry in Pakistan.
Vegan leather is a type of leather that does not use any animal products in its manufacture. It is usually made from synthetic materials, such as polyurethane or PVC, that are designed to look and feel like leather. Vegan leather is a cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather and does not contribute to the animal skin trade. Animal leather is a cruel industry, which we hear a lot about. Faux leather, on the other hand, has become something of a fad, but few of us are aware of how harmful it can be to the environment and your health. Leather alternatives exist, but there are some real stories of animal cruelty. Wool, our favorite warm garment, is not. According to PETA, all animal parts used in the fashion industry are subjected to abuse. In recent years, vegan faux leather has gained popularity and become a fan favorite. The materials used in faux leather are Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polyurethane (PU).
Leather making and tanning require a lot of resources, including energy and water, which can lead to waste. It uses chemicals like chromium salts, which create toxic wastewater that pollutes land and water alike. Additionally, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that farming produces approximately 14% of all greenhouse emissions caused by human activity. This includes the traditional leather industry, which has a huge carbon footprint and is not environmentally sustainable.
Mushroom Leather: There are various mushroom or fungus-based natural vegan leathers being produced at present, from the aforementioned Mylo (made from mycelium cells) to MuSkin (made from the caps of Phellinus ellipsoideus fungi), all of which are far more sustainable and ethical than animal leather. Cork Leather: Cork is a natural, sustainable vegan leather material that has many potential uses (as wine drinkers will know!), including as a leather-like material. Because it can be made by removing the outer layer of bark from a cork oak tree without needing to cut the tree down, the bark can grow back and be repeatedly harvested, as detailed by Peta-approved cork product maker, Corkor.
While the Gohar rose can mainly be found in Lahore, Pakistan – Asif Ali Gohar has been in talks with multiple gardening and botany organizations to have the roses widespread across the country, and eventually across the world. There have already been inquiries from several neighboring countries to have the Gohar rose grown there, but Pakistan is the first priority for Asif. He has also attempted to conduct workshops to guide gardeners of the best practices in rose growing that he has learned over the years in his career.
It could be argued that a third category of “lab-grown vegan leather” exists as it could technically be viewed as a mix between natural and synthetic. However, for such materials to be “grown”, they invariably use biological natural organisms, such as fungi or algae as a base, so we shall classify such materials as natural. Synthetic Vegan Leather – Synthetic vegan leather refers to materials, such as PU leather, which is made from polyurethane, or other plastic-based options. Sometimes collectively referred to as “pleather”, these are generally made directly from petrochemicals, but sometimes they can be made from recycled plastics.
Using An Affordable Material: Vegan leather is expensive because other companies are using costly materials to make vegan leather items. On the other hand, rice is a staple item, and it is readily available everywhere, which means it is much cheaper. Using rice as a vegan alternative will allow Asif to offer affordable prices to his customers, which will mean more people will shift to this substitute. Staying True To His Roots: Since he was twelve, Asif has been in Germany, but he is using rice to stay true to his Pakistani roots. That is because Pakistan is the tenth biggest rice exporter worldwide, and it produces 8% of the world’s total rice trade. So, Asif wants to use the knowledge of the best rice producers and ensure quality vegan leather.