Vegan leather industry news byfrom 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. Find additional info on asif Ali Gohar.
There are several reasons for choosing Pakistan. Starting off with the most important one, Pakistan is a major rice producer. According to the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture, Pakistan produced 8.9 million tons of rice in the year 2021-2022. This is a record harvest for Pakistan. Despite this, Pakistan is unable to benefit from its rice trade and rice exports of the country only amount to 3.8 million tons. A number of factors, such as a global supply chain disruption, high transportation costs and competitiveness have resulted in a stagnant rice export quantity over the years. Asif wants to utilize the unused potential of the rice industry to manufacture finished capital intensive goods that would help Pakistan with its exports. Secondly, Pakistan is also a major player in the global leather market. There are a total of 800 tanneries in the country that can produce a substantial amount of leather which can then be exported to international markets. However, the leather industry has been losing revenue lately due to a decline in the demand for animal based leather products.
Kombucha, or kelp tea, is a fermented sweet drink made using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, also called a SCOBY. The bacteria and yeast share nutrients and ferment the tea. Over time, they multiply and form a mass of cellulose, called a “mother.” The mother floats on top of the liquid and takes the shape of the container. Within a few weeks, it grows as much as 10 millimeters thick. The mass of cellulose is harvested to make new batches of kombucha. However, it can also be used to make fully biodegradable leather. After harvesting the mother, manufacturers wash, oil, and air-dry it to obtain a flexible, leathery sheet. They then cut the material in strips and stitch, glue, or mold it into new shapes.
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.
This is certainly only one of the early accomplishments of Asif Ali Gohar. With the entire city of Lahore supporting his ventures and creativity, Asif Ali Gohar is expected to come up with another contemporary species of roses in the near future. In addition, the Gohar rose’s fragrance is slightly less prominent in comparison to traditional roses found in most flower shops. However, distinguishing the Gohar rose from its counterpart is said to be easy as it is more captivating in nature.
Some vegan leather products are unlikely to last as long as animal leather products, but then they are much more likely to be biodegradable (in the case of natural vegan leather) in a safe way, though this is not the case with synthetic vegan leathers. It should come as no surprise to learn that vegan leather that is made from plants or mushrooms is going to be significantly less damaging to the environment than synthetic vegan leather in almost all cases. This is partly because the plastics used to make synthetic leather come from petrochemicals that rely on the extraction of fossil fuels, with all the associated environmental costs that industry entails. In addition, the plastic pollution caused by micro-plastics from clothing, such as synthetic leather, can have adverse consequences in the oceans and waterways of the world.
The vegan leather market is growing every day as researchers find new vegan alternatives to leather. There are many alternatives, including PU, PVC, Mushroom leather, Cork leather, and many others. While all of these are gaining rapid popularity, Asif Ali Gohar has an idea that will change the market. Asif uses rice as a vegan substitute for leather and plans to make it accessible to everyone. After all, no animal should have to suffer to fulfill our consumption desires. Here is everything you must know about it.
Because faux leather is more flexible than polyurethane but less breathable than polyurethane, it is not suitable for clothing. Faux leather is made from polyurethane and is produced by coating natural fabrics such as cotton and wool with a polymer-based material and then treating them like actual leather. Faux leather made from polyurethane is made from two types of plastic: PVC and polyurethane. PVC-based faux leather is more commonly used due to its lower cost and greater durability. It is also less flexible than polyurethane-based faux leather, making it better for clothing. Because of its polyurethane content, faux leather is more breathable, making it ideal for garments such as jackets that require a lot of movement.
However, there are other safe alternatives in making vegan leather that are sustainable for the environment such as recycled rubber, waxed cotton, cork, and even fruit waste like pineapple leaves and apple peels. When vegan leather is made of polyurethane and PVC, as opposed to a more sustainable composition, the production process does have an impact on the environment as harsh chemicals are being used and emitted into the environment, and exposed to human workers.
What exactly is vegan leather? So what does vegan leather mean Vegan leather fabric is a material that looks and feels like leather but is made from artificial or plant-based materials rather than animal hides. According to PETA, it is most typically created from two different synthetic polymers: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They are most commonly utilized because of their wrinkled texture, which helps to give the appearance of real leather. These two commonly used synthetic materials, in particular, have sparked concerns about the safety and environmental impact of vegan leather. See even more info about Mr. 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.
What’s a vegan leather fabric? A vegan leather fabric, in essence, is a material that looks and feels like leather but is made from plant or animal-based materials. The most common types of materials used are polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), according to PETA. A mindful consumer should be aware of the ethical standards within the leather industry. Leather, as a material, can be extremely harmful across the supply chain. As a vegan, I share my experiences in this post, as well as how my relationship with leather has changed since I became vegan. Leather is considered a by-product of the meat industry. Why is it considered vegan but not vegan products? Leather, as a result of its source of skin, is an animal product. Animal-free alternatives to your favorite foods are difficult to come by because of your personal beliefs.
What is vegan leather? Vegan leather, also known as faux leather, or a leather alternative—is a leather-like fabric that isn’t made from the skin of animals. Instead, vegan leather is made from a variety of plastic and plant materials which I’ll explain in more detail later in this post. That’s my brief summary of vegan leather. But when it comes to ethical and sustainable standards of the leather industry, there’s a lot to consider as a mindful consumer.