I thought leather was made from hides?
2 Guys Create Vegan Leather Made From Cactus That’ll Put an End to Animal Cruelty
For a long time, people have been trying to come up with a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to leather that is cruelty-free. And now, an innovative solution devised by 2 entrepreneurs from Mexico offers a way to create leather simply by using cactus that is not only environmentally-friendly, but also looks and feels like real leather.
We at Bright Side support all initiatives that mean fewer animals will suffer and the world will be a better place, and this is exactly the type of cause we can get behind.
New, environmental-friendly method of creating leather
Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez have devised a method of transforming cactus into vegan leather called Desserto. It is made entirely out of cactus, and this leather can be used to make everything from shoes to wallets.
The cactus is very resilient, and it can withstand low temperatures during winter without dying. According to their website, they select and cut only the mature leaves of the plant without damaging the cactus itself, and do a new harvest every 6 to 8 months.
Creating vegan leather is already a reality.
Up until now, the company has been able to utilize cactus leather in many ways, creating handbags, car seats, shoes, and even apparel. And since the material is completely organic, the leather is breathable, which has often proven to be a problem when it comes to synthetic alternatives.
In the process of creating cactus leather, they cut the mature leaves and dry them under the sun for 3 days in order to achieve the exact humidity level needed. Then, they process the organic raw material to make the patented formula required to create vegan leather.
Furthermore, another important environmentally-friendly fact is that cactus leather is partially biodegradable and contains zero plastic. The fact that it’s biodegradable makes this material even more valuable.
Cruelty-free, sustainable alternative to animal leather
Thanks to its durability and high resistance to low temperatures, this organic, sustainable product can replace the use of animal leather and other synthetic materials that are not environmentally-friendly.
Currently, the brand is negotiating projects with major players in a variety of industries and working to make the material more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses. So before you know it, you might just find yourself putting on a pair of cactus leather shoes.
There’s no harm done to the surrounding biodiversity.
They haven’t had to cut down any trees at the farms that supply the cactuses. In fact, they’ve done the opposite, as they plant a native cactus from the region, it actually helps the biodiversity of the area.
Adrian and Maret’s methods cause no harm to the surrounding biodiversity. Their plantation is fully organic and their natural techniques stimulate the soil’s microflora and microfauna, which is then preserved without any damage caused whatsoever.
Would you embrace the idea of cultivating organic cactus leather instead of animal leather? Do you agree that this is a viable solution that needs to be instantly implemented worldwide? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Comments
I had no idea you can make leather from cactus!
It looks great, I wonder if it's expensive
next thing on the news: serial killer is killing cactuses all over the world
I'm just happy that animals wouldn't be hurt that much
![](https://wl-static.cf.tsp.li/avatars/icons_wl/8.png)
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