A new meta-analysis published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering finds that cow leather's carbon footprint is 70 percent larger than earlier estimates. The study challenges the common industry claim that leather is a harmless byproduct of meat production. Vox calculated that a men's leather wallet carries emissions equivalent to roughly four American-made beef burgers. The global leather market is valued at hundreds of billions of dollars annually, and hides are a significant revenue stream for cattle producers, meaning they carry a share of the industry's emissions and environmental impact. The article argues that leather should not be considered a waste product but a co-product that supports extra profits for cattle farming. It notes that American demand for leather has been linked to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The piece also discusses alternatives to leather, though it cautions against low-quality synthetic materials like pleather. For anyone tracking carbon footprints in consumer goods, this study provides a more accurate baseline for leather's climate impact and challenges the sustainability claims often made by the fashion industry.
