“Green” Leather Shoes – An Explanation

Leather may be a natural material for shoes, but that does not necessarily mean it is eco-friendly. Commercial leather tanning - the process by which perishable animal skins are converted into non-perishable leather - involves a complicated, 15-step chemical process resulting in large amounts of polluted water.

The tanning process often uses petroleum products, and leather tanning factories also make heavy use of diesel fuel to run their equipment. In addition, many large shoe corporations employ workers overseas in factories with bad working conditions.

Some of the chemicals used in leather tanning are sulfides, sulfates, chlorides, chromium, and other heavy metals. Workers exposed to these chemicals can develop health problems as a result. In countries where leather tanning is big business, the environmental impact is becoming serious.

Of course, synthetic leather and other artificial shoe materials are not necessarily eco-friendly, either. A balance can be found in "green" leather.

What Is "Green" Leather?

This is a kind of leather processed by eco-friendly methods. Interestingly, scientists have discovered a way that manufacturers can actually reverse the 15-step tanning process, thus reducing the use of chemicals and the amount of waste water. In fact, the reversed tanning process reduces the number of steps as well.

Other companies use eco-friendly tanning methods that make use of natural plant extracts - specifically, extracts from the Mimosa tree - in place of the toxic chemicals of conventional tanning. The Mimosa trees are farmed by sustainable methods, and the extraction process is also sustainable. To make the leather soft, these green companies use vegetable products and waxes.

The leather industry is beginning to move toward clean energy and sustainable tanning methods. Recently, a green leather manufacturing company opened in Vietnam. This factory will be using wind turbines, hot water heated by solar energy, and a hydraulic waste-water system to conserve water.

What to Look For When Shopping for Green Shoes

When you go shopping for green leather shoes, you may find some confusing terminology such as :

1.        Vegan shoes are never made with leather or any animal product, so if the shoes you are considering are labeled "vegan," they are not actual leather.

2.    Eco-friendly leather is leather that has been processed by sustainable, environmentally-friendly methods.

3.    Organic shoes are made from organic materials which may or may not be leather, or only partially made from leather.

The key is to look for those shoes that claim to be both genuine leather (whole or in part) and eco-friendly. It is also a good idea to do your research and find the names of companies who engage in sustainable leather processing practices.