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The Eco-Friendly Choice–PVC or Leather
Posted on December 17, 2010 by Dawn Michelle in Style
I’ve been vegan for almost ten years now. There was a time I felt extremely guilty for being vegan, yet still owning leather shoes and accessories. So one fall I took all of my leather shoes, bags, belts, and jackets except one pair of BCBG brown heeled boots I invested in, and sold everything to Crossroads, my favorite buy sell trade retailer. I then used the money from the sale to purchase two pairs of vegan faux leather shoes, a bag, and a belt. Despite my knowledge, over the year I had also bought a faux leather jacket. All of the vegan products I had bought had been made with PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).The following year I discovered that PVC was a toxic material and ended up selling all of my PVC fashion items to Crossroads for exchange credit. I then used the credit to trade for a wool blend winter coat and a pair of tall leather riding boots. Because of the problems associated with PVC, many concerned parents only buy PVC-free bottles for their babies and PVC-free toys for their children. Although there is a great PVC scare for children, media doesn’t really talk about it as much in regards to fashion, vinyl flooring, or other everyday items.
So What’s The Big Deal?
According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, PVC releases chemicals such as dioxins, lead, mercury, and phthalates linked to diseases such as asthma, learning and developmental disabilities, as well as cancer in children. These same toxins released from PVC have also been linked to breast cancer and reproductive health problems.
PVC has been coined “the poison plastic” because in its production it fuses vinyl chloride molecules with toxic metals such as lead and cadmium which are added as stabilizers and plasticizers. The chemical properties of chlorine as well as by-products of PVC during production are extremely toxic, and can easily accumulate in our food supply and our bodies different from similar chemicals that do not contain chlorine. PVC is the only major plastic that contains chlorine therefore is uniquely hazardous.
My Eco-Friendly Choice
After selling all my leather goods, then selling all my PVC goods, I have finally come up with my own choice in which I am comfortable with. Because I like quality items that last for years and years, I now choose to buy well constructed leather goods second hand. This is very easy where bags, belts, and most shoes are concerned. Yet some shoes I have bought new because of my narrow finicky-to-fit feet. Purchasing second hand leather makes me more comfortable than buying new leather which is still supporting the meat industry. There is a balance with everything, and can be challenging to be supremely strict. PETA wouldn’t be proud of me for admitting to it, but yes I do wear second hand leather.
Read more on this topic here.
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i share your sentiments exactly! same goes for polyester (my once amazing collection of vintage 70s shirts are long gone). only problem is that most leather is treated (in polluting tanning factories) so it doesn’t break down easily. But it will last longer than plastic shoes, which you’d have to buy more often.