Updated: Feb 5, 2023
Currently, there are many products that use leather as its core material but it is also found within many more. This includes belts, shoes, wallets, bag sand jackets, just to name a few, so as I am sure you are aware there is a lot of leather out there. This largely comes down to the ‘high end’ ‘quality’ look and feel the majority of people believe it achieves. However, for ethical and environmental reasons leather is certainly not good at all. A common misconception with leather is the belief that leather is a by-product of the meat industry but this is simply not true. Most leathers come from animals that are killed primarily for their skin and not as a by-product, even as a by-product it is still not ethical. Additionally to this, the process to tanning leather uses a lot of toxic chemicals, which has further impacts on the environment. This is why I have been looking for an eco-friendly, ethical alternative that is sustainable, as a replacement for leather. To do this I have looked at the ‘Cradle-to-cradle’ approach, which looks at the life cycle of the product from its source, through its manufacture to its end of life and if this can be recycled, renew or reused in some way. For these reasons I have omitted faux leather, which is often made from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) a plastic made to look like leather, as its production is a carbon-intensive process and isn’t biodegradable. Anyway, here are 12 sustainable, cruelty free alternatives to leather:
Cork:
This is probably my favourite alternative and possibly the fastest growing in popularity in recent years. It is a great sustainable material made from the bark of a cork oak tree. The bark is harvested in a way that does not affect the tree allowing the bark to regrow, making it sustainable. There are many different ways the cork is pressed to form the material, which give slightly different looks with both a light and dark finish. To me it gives an earthy elegant look, which is a lot better than leather. Cork is naturally weatherproof, durable and recyclable at the end of its life, further making it a great choice. I have seen it made into wallets, briefcases, belts, bags and even umbrellas. This natural material is probably one of the most eco-friendly materials on this list making it my first choice.
Tree Bark Leather:
This is much like cork and comes from fast growing, sustainable timber and renewable forests or woods. This creates a durable and strong wood leather material, which is often created into a fabric like material called bark cloth or bark fleece. This may not always be waterproof but this feature can be achieved with non-toxic chemical on some items. If you want a more flexible material this may be a great option. I have seen this been made into jackets, coats and other clothing items.
Paper:
This is another one that has increased in popularity and although initially surprising it can achieve strength to that of leather. Additionally, as most of you know paper can be recyclable and made from recycled material, well this is no different for the paper products that can replace leather. The leather like paper itself often uses canvas to strengthen the material and natural oils to soften it and make it flexible. This gives it, its unique look and as it is paper a variety of colours, patterns and designs can be applied to it. I have seen bags, purses and wallets all use this material. The most well-known is the Mighty Wallet, which is known for its extreme durability and strength.
Recycled Rubber:
Another great choice is rubber, which is more of an acute style but provides a matt leathery look. As this is commonly from recycled material, it is often coloured black, which is fine if you like that but you also may not. It has a unique texture that some people don’t like the feel of too but again some might. However, some believe it has a similar texture and density of leather and is a great alternative for bags, belts and accessories. Additionally, the core rubber material often comes from old inner tubes and other recycled rubber that is upcycled.
Recycled tyres – I thought I would mention this as a sub section due to the prominence it has in fashion. I am sure you must have seen belts, guitar straps and jewellery accessories made out of old bike tires, which again provide a unique look with a recycled material.
Piñatex:
Piñatex is a very unique material made from pineapple plant leaves. This is a 100% eco-friendly product and uses an often unused by-product of the pineapple farming industry. This creates a secondary source of income for the farmers and is sustainable. The material looks like worn leather, is watertight and does not need any toxic chemicals in its processing. I have seen this mainly be used for shoes and bags but can be made into dressed, skirts and other items. This is a great option as it is both ethical and sustainable.
Waxed Cotton:
This one may be a bit more tricky and you should do some research, as to where you are getting the product from. However, there are companies that provide waxed cotton that is both organic and sustainable. Cotton on its own is not waterproof and that is why it is waxed. This creates a material that is waterproof and as cotton and wax are easier to clean than leather the process in its formation is easier to wash, which reduces the amounts of potentially harmful cleaning chemicals. As this is fabric based it is much more pliable than leather and others on this list, allowing it to be applied in more products. Some well-known brands make some high-end products with this unique texture and look. I have seen this primarily used for jackets, hats and bags.
Coolstone ‘Leather’:
What do you mean a cloth made from stone? That’s impossible right? Well, Coolstone ‘leather is made from an extremely thin sewable layer of slate stone onto a fleece material. This again is very unique and provides a well-worn leathery look that feels like paper and stone. As it gets older the distressed look increases, further improving the well-worn look. Due to it being made from slate stone It always comes in a matte black/grey finish, which gets softer with age. This is a new emerging material that needs more development but is a great looking alternative to leather.
Ocean Leather:
This one is fascinating but unfortunately I haven’t seen many companies use it. It is a natural material that comes from the ocean, specifically from leather kelp (large brown tough seaweed). To be sustainable it involves growing this plant in a farmed section of the ocean but there is already an abundance of it that exists and as above it is still in its early stages of development. However, the kelp does not use pesticide lessening its environmental impact. Once collected it is often dyed to be a more appeasing colour but this can be done with natural, eco-friendly dyes.
MuSkin:
This is an odd one and some people may not like the idea of it but I believe it is a great alternative. You may have guessed from the name but this comes from mushrooms. To be precise it used the inedible mushroom specifically Phellinus Elliposideus cap that grows on tree trunks. Once harvested the mushroom cap go through a similar process of leathering but instead of using toxic chemicals, natural eco-friendly alternative can be used. In this process the material can also be made water-repellent. This finished material creates an earthy looking products that looks similar to suede but is much softer. I have seen this used for bags, hats and purses but will hopefully see a lot more of it in the not too distant future.
The Hana Plant (Agave Plant):
This again is a lesser-known alternative but still makes it way on the list. The reason for it being on the list is because it’s simplistic, elegant minimalistic look that I love. This uses the fibres from the thick leaves of the Hana Plant that can be grown sustainably. They are woven together to produce a thick fabric. I have seen seller’s state this is good for the local communities where it is grown and is Peta approved, further increasing it eco-friendliness. However, if you pick an item up with it, try to ensure that is uses natural, certified dyes on the product.
Teak Leaves:
This is another interesting one and the one that I believe connects the most with nature (visually), so if you are like that, I would recommend this one. This uses natural raw teak leaves that are able to withstand tropical storms, so are naturally strong, durable and water resistant. This material has a natural look similar to that you could see on the jungle or forest floor. I have mostly seen it been used to create purses or bags.
Fruit leather:
Fruit leathers are much like some of the alternatives I have previously mentioned. This uses the skins and seeds (the left over bits) of fruit (Apple, Orange and grapes) to create a durable leather like material. This can be tear and water resistant making it durable and hardy. As it is from fruit it is a sustainable by-product, which also makes it a great choice. One of the top fruit leather is:
Wineleather- This is made from grape marc, which is the leftover bit from the winemaking process (Consisting of grape skins and seeds), processed in an environmentally friendly way to make a leather. This often has a rich red, burgundy look, which may be to your liking.
This goes to show that there are a number of alternatives that could be used and adopted to stop the use of leather. I understand that some of these may be hard to find or get your hands on, as they are still in development and growing in the market. However, with higher demand they will become more easily accessible and prominent in the industry. There are 12 alternative on this list and I would be incredibly surprised if you could not get hold of the item you want with one of these. For this reason and the ethical reasons you should really consider them not only for the ethics but because they provide a great fashion alternative. When purchasing any items always look at the company, as they are often proud to proclaim they are animal/ cruelty free, vegan friendly and often demonstrate other incentives such as planting more than they take to better help in the world. If you are looking for alternatives to leather I applaud your dedication to begin to help the environment and animal welfare but do make sure to do some research first. Just because it uses a potentially sustainable product doesn’t mean It is sustainable and ethical. An example of this is many of these plants are sustainable unless they are over harvests depleting their number and their impact on their respective ecosystems. Finally, I hope there is at least one alternative on this list that you want to learn about and possibly even start using as an alternative to leather not only for ethical reasons but also the wider environmental reason.
Updated: Feb 5, 2023
When I saw the Matrix PowerWatch I was initially intrigued by this futuristic device on the crowd-funded website ‘Indiegogo’. I quickly decided to back the product and luckily, this was a contribution that actually paid off, as I received the watch. The MATRIX PowerWatch as they phrase is the “Smartwatch Powered by You”. This is because it never needs to be charged, which makes it sustainable. There are three options of the watch that is available, these is the standard version, Black Ops Special edition and the version I got the ‘X’. The PowerWatch X is the biggest of the watches and meant to be a tougher version with the bonus of being 200m deep water resistant. The main reason I went for the X model was because it is bigger it stated it generates more power, giving some additional features such as synced notifications.
Here is what you get in the box:
Firstly, the box seems well made and has an overall professional look, which actually looks like a product you would pick off the shelf in your high-street, so that is a good start. When you open the box you are greeted with the watch in all its glory with the following contents:
The Watch – Obviously!
Thermal Recharger – To charge it from a wall socket, as opposed to your wrist.
Microfibre – To clean the watch face
User Manual – To get you started!
Warranty
Guide for the Thermal Recharger
Initial thoughts:
The main reason I got this watch is because you never have to charge it making it sustainable. This is for two aspect, one it saves energy and two batteries are still incredibly poor and this is more so in smartwatches, which solves this problem. The ability to have your smartwatch on your wrist all the time without having to take it off and continues to work is great. The watch generates power through the temperature difference between your body heat and the heat of the watches case, which generates a charge to keep the watch powered. This essentially means you will not have to charge it, saving energy and the pollution that often comes with it. Additionally to this, it is 200m water resistant, which I haven’t tested that but it does work after going through the shower a few times and a quick swim. Finally, the watch has several modes for a number of function, these include:
Time, day and date mode
Daily activity –Details distant travelled and calories burned
Running – Tracks your time and distance
Stop Watch
How does it looks:
As for the look this is usually rather personal to whoever will be wearing it. For that reason I have added a number of pictures. However, in my opinion it a solid metal design that looks hard wearing and rugged. The face clearly depicts the time, day and date, which is very useful. The watch feels snug on the wrist due to the rubber strap, which I assume will help with obtaining the heat difference on your wrist. The watch is clearly notifiable on the wrist, due to it slightly large size, which to some could be uncomfortable and difficult with long sleeved shirts. To me this is the main issue with the watch, its bulkiness. It almost seems bigger than what it looks like in the picture and is almost too big for most people’s wrists. Having said that I know chunky watches suite some people taste and like me the added benefit of a more powerful watch made it worth it.
Does it work?
Simply Yes, I have owned it for several months now and not had a problem with the battery life of the watch at all, so its main feature of being powered by you seems to be true. Additionally, it is easy to read the time, day, date and all other information on all the different modes. It also tracks your activity and gives you notifications when you achieve your activity goals. Further to this, the watch buzzes and gives a notification that clearly shows you have received a message and who it is from, which is a useful function. However, it lacks the ability to read the message or reply via the watch but for me meant that I did not have to pick my phone up, as often if I could see the message was not important to me.
Software:
The software seems simple enough and I didn’t have any troubles navigating it at first. However, I did have some trouble when it needed to be updated. If I had not used it for say a week and it needed an update, it struggled to do this and had several problems connecting the watch to the software (app) on my phone. Eventually, I had to remove the watch connection with my phone, delete the app and reinstall it all to get it working. I am hoping this is a small technical problem that the Matrix Company will be fixing shortly.
Fitness tracking:
Now, I am not the biggest fitness fanatic but I do try to keep myself reasonably fit. Usually, for me this is a light weight workout, the occasional walk and I bike to my local train station. However, the Matrix Smart Watch fitness tracking only extends to a running mode. This times and tells you the distance of your run, which seems to be fairly accurate (in my test). This is then recorded on the app and can be compared to your friends and your past runs to track improvements. Unfortunately, this is quite limited and I hope they have improved this in the PowerWatch 2.
Final Thoughts:
I love the concept of this watch but I still believe there are a number of issues that still needs a lot of work. Namely, the software, the amount of functions the watch has and the bulkiness of it. Smartwatches are often used for their fitness and health tracking, which is limited with the lack of sensors on the PowerWatch. Additionally, the watch is defiantly large on the wrist and in my opinion a bit too bulky, almost making it uncomfortable, so this is something to consider. Having said this the watch achieves its goal of not needing to be charged from a plug socket, it is water resistant and meets the requirements of a watch by telling you the time and has the added benefit of alerting you when you get a message.
Warning: I paid for this on Indiegogo about a year in advance, as they did not meet their deadline for delivery. Additionally, I had it for approximately 7 months and they have brought out the next generation. Now, although I am glad they have (I assume) improved the watch with enhanced features, better performance and arguably better looking but to me it is not fair on those who just purchased the previous version to make it outdated in such a short amount of time. For someone who likes technology and wants to have the latest and greatest it is rather disheartening when you support a brand for over a year and then be outdated within months.
Recommendation:
Despite this being a 3rd edition of the watch and I was hoping most the kinks would had been ironed out I feel it still needs more work. Mainly due to its bulkiness, technical glitches with the software and lack of function (heart rate monitor, etc.), so for the PowerWatch X I would not recommend getting this version or any of the first generations. Having said this, I believe that the PowerWatch by Matrix are the only real smartwatch that has a unique sustainable element to it. Additionally, they have quickly produced their second line of the watches with the ‘PowerWatch 2’, which I have higher hopes for and fingers crossed will improve the issues with the first line, so don’t rule them out just yet.
Indiegogo:
Finally, I would not advise getting the watch or anything through Indiegogo, as you could be waiting a long time like I had to and potential not receive it at all. Although, I did receive my perk from Matrix in the end, on another (completely unrelated product) I did not and there was no way of getting my money back, so just be aware of that and the risks you take.
Updated: Feb 3, 2023
I have always been fascinated with peoples' every day carry, even the question of what do you need to carry on you every day to perform your daily tasks is incredibly intriguing. Well for me these items need to meet the requirements of my job, working in a London office with the goal to be sustainable. In this post I look at my key items I carry most days with my focus to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Here is my Every Day Carry (EDC):
MATRIX Power Watch:
This is a smartwatch that is ‘powered by you’. I love technology but unfortunately it is often not very eco-friendly. However, Matrix came out with a smartwatch that tells the time, send you notifications and records your running activity. The reason this is sustainable is because it never needs to be charged, stopping the waste of typical smartwatches energy usage. It achieves this by using the temperature difference between your skin and the watches case to create an electrical charge and keep the watch powered. I like the rugged design of the watch and its basic functions but in my opinion it does need some work to meet the performance and abilities of other smartwatches. I am hoping this will be achieved in the Powerwatch 2 they plan on releasing in June 2019. Although, this watch does have it's problems, it is the only sustainable smartwatch on the market that I know of. I have also done a full review on this!
Axel Weinbrecht Inkless Metal Pen:
Pens and pencils are not very eco-friendly. The plastic, ink, paint, rubber, wood and other materials all gets wasted, as soon as the ink runs out or the pencil is too short to use, so I began to look for an alternative. This led me to the Axel Weinbrecht Inkless Pen. It is made from metal and states it will never run out, meaning you never create any waste. The pen does feel a little different to use but I have been using it for a number of month now and it hasn’t run out or look any different (shorter) from when I brought it, despite a few scratches. It has a simplistic design and is around the same size as a typical pen. One thing to note, is that it writes fairly faintly, potentially making it hard to read if you struggle with this. Additionally, it writes more like a pencil as it can be rubbed out but it does leave an indent where you have used it. Having said this. taking notes is a critical part of my job and this inkless pen is a great sustainable tool that stops the constant waste from pens and pencils. I also make sure to use recycled paper and a sustainable notebook to further reduce my environmental impact.
Moral Origins Cork wallet:
This wallet was a game changer for me. I have owned an embarrassing amount of wallets but have always found it difficult to find one that hold all of my cards (10), a few notes and a bit of change, whilst also being compact. I also wanted it to be sustainable and ethical. Well after much searching I came across the Moral Origins Cork Wallet. That for me completely meets my requirements including the ethical and sustainable aspects. The only downside to this wallet is that it does not carry a ton of notes. However, I been able to fit five notes behind my cards and If you have less cards you should be able to fit more in. Although, I should note that it is the 21st century and notes are not as commonly used as they were. One small issue with the wallet is that the brass screw would rub on the card potentially wearing them out ( I don't think this is a problem with their new wallet), so I stuck a paper card at the front to stop this from happening. The wallet uses cork, which is a great sustainable product that is durable, strong and vegan. You can buy the new wallet by Moral Origins either made for £15 or you can get it where you have to self-assemble it for £12.50. I went for the self-assembly (it was incredibly easy to assemble) that came with a single piece of cork and two pairs of brass screws that form it unique shape. I should note that I have the older version and Moral Origins wallet and they have come out with a newer one, which I assume is improved. As for mine I have been using this for about 6 months now and it still looks and works great. I have also done a full review of this!
Keys:
The last item on the list is my keys of course. I aim to not clutter these and consists of my house keys, shed key, bike lock keys and that is it. I try to keep my keys as simple and uncluttered as possible with no keychain.
This is just my EDC that I have adapted to be sustainable but still allows me to carry everything I need on a daily basis. However, yours might be different and I would love to see more sustainable options that may change mine, so share your EDC with me through the comments below and my social media (in the right hand corner). Finally, if you like this article and want me to do a what in my eco-bag article let me know and I will get to work on it.
