The leather industry involves significant animal welfare costs. Plant-based and synthetic leather alternatives are growing in quality and accessibility, offering welfare-positive choices.
Leather production is inseparable from the slaughter of animals — primarily cattle — whose welfare in farming and transport has already been examined. Exotic leather from crocodilians, snakes, and fish raises additional welfare concerns about farming conditions and slaughter methods. The growth of plant-based alternatives including Mylo mushroom leather, Desserto cactus leather, and Pinatex pineapple fiber creates welfare-positive options at improving quality. The environmental trade-offs between petrochemical synthetics and natural plant-based materials require consideration alongside welfare benefits.