Organic Leather
Conventional Leather
Avoid conventional leather involves toxic dyes, glues, and polluting materials. They are made with toxic tanning process and synthetic materials or other petroleum-derived materials.
- ❌ Toxic leather: conventional leather tanning may contain chromium, arsenic, and other chemicals that pollute the environment and water supplies.
- ❌ Chrome Tanned Leather: 90% of leather is chrome tanned. Chrome tanning is a widely used method in the leather industry, involving the treatment of animal hides with chromium salts, primarily chromium(III) sulfate. Toxic wastewater from tanneries can contaminate local ecosystems. It can lead to toxic chromium (VI) formation, which is harmful to humans and the environment.
- ❌ Toxic dyes: toxic to the workers and the environment.
- ❌ PFAS: they contain toxic PFAS that are not only harmful to you but also to the environment. They are found especially in waterproof footwear
Greenwashing Leather
Avoid Greenwashing leather made by brands that pretend to be sustainable, eco-friendly, and claim to be made with safer materials when they are not. They will use misleading marketing claims to convince you to buy their products.
Many came with vegan leather alternatives, bringing more plastic to the world:
- ❌ PVC: Most vegan leathers today are made from PVC, made with petroleum. PVC is, for this reason, harmful to the environment.
- ❌ PU is another synthetic vegan or faux leather. By definition, PU stands for Polyurethane, a plastic polymer derived from petroleum. Even less than PVC, PU still requires petroleum.
Sustainable Leather
The best leather is made with natural and sustainable leather, even better with regenerative organic leather. The most eco-friendly leather on the market is chromium-free, made with renewable resources under third party certifications.
Certifications
- ✅ Certified non-toxic leather: tested to be chromium-free; naturally tanned with vegetable tanning.
- ✅ USDA Certified Biobased: This certification ensures that the brands are reducing their reliance on petroleum, increasing their use of renewable agricultural resources, and contributing to reducing adverse environmental impacts.
- ✅ Recycled materials: 100% of this sneaker’s lining is recycled polyester. It also has a sole made with recycled rubber.
- ✅ B corp
- ✅ Certified by The Leather Working Group (LWG): the world’s leading environmental certification for leather manufacturing. They conduct intensive audits of leather manufacturers and assess every aspect of their operations. Transparency in the leather supply chain, saving energy, water, worker health and safety, safe chemical practices, and wastewater management. Certified by The Leather Working Group (LWG): transparency in the leather supply chain, saving energy, water, worker health and safety, safe chemical practices, and wastewater management.
The Best Organic Leather Brands
- 🌿 O My Bag
- 🌿 Koio
- 🌿 Nisolo
- 🌿 Origo 10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL. It makes chrome-free vegetable-dyed leather shoes
Shop with my links to support my research! 💖
O My Bag Organic Bags
💖O My Bag Organic Bags
These organic tote bags are made sustainably with the most eco-friendly material on the market.
Made with sustainable leather that is tanned without the use of harmful chemicals and has no synthetic top finish.
✅ 100% of their leather: tested to be chromium-free; naturally tanned with vegetable tanning. Gold' rating, Certified by The Leather Working Group (LWG): transparency in the leather supply chain, saving energy, water, worker health and safety, safe chemical practices, and wastewater management.
🌿 100% Vegan Apple leather: bio-based material made from apple waste, produced in Italy (Frumat and Mabel Synthetic). A by-product that is turned from “waste” into a resource.
🌿100% Vegan bio-based leather: world’s first plastic-free, plant-based vegan leather, lower carbon, made from natural rubber, plant-based oil, natural pigments, and minerals. Water-resistant and 100% vegan.
🌿 Organic cotton lining: lining on the inside of our bags. GOTS-certified organic cotton backing. or 100% recycled cotton, certified by Global Recycle Standard (GRS)
- ✅ LWG Gold-certified, Chromium-free leather
- ✅ 100% Vegan from apple leather
- ✅ 100% Biobased leather
- ✅ GOTS-certified organic cotton and dyes
- ✅ B Corp Certified
MATERIAL: 100% Vegan from apple by-product, The Leather Working Group (LWG) non-toxic leather, bio-based leather
Humble Suds Wood and Leather Balm
💚Humble Suds Natural Wood and Leather Balm
This Wood and Leather Balm allows you to revive your wood and leather goods with organic ingredients.
You can restore and improve your wood and leather wares, organic furniture, wooden floor, and more!
Plus, it keeps your house free of dust and smelling beautiful. You can even use it to condition your organic cutting board and wooden utensils.
Infused with white grapefruit essential oil for an added cleaning boost. Safer ingredient you can eat.
Directions: Test a small area prior to full application. After testing, apply with a dry cloth in a circular motion. Wipe away excess. Not recommended for use on suede. Store at room temp.
- ✅ Organic Ingredients
- ✅ Gluten-Free
- ✅ Vegan | Cruelty-free
- ✅ Phthalate-Free
- ✅ No Mineral Oil
INGREDIENTS: Organic cold expeller-pressed virgin coconut oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic raw beeswax, vegetable glycerin, grapefruit oil, and lemongrass oil.
Origo Leather Men Shoes
🌿 Origo makes sustainable women's shoes, sustainable men's shoes, and sustainable kids' shoes
🌿 Origo Sustainable Shoes: The Men's Retro Sneaker
These non-toxic leather men's shoes are made with Natural Leather
Working Group certified: Certified by The Leather Working Group (LWG): the world’s largest leather sustainability program that trains companies on best practices to reduce their environmental impact.
Natural leather: comes from local tanneries that are environmentally friendly.
Chrome-free leather: non-toxic
Vegetable-Tanned Leather (The Gold Standard for Non-Toxic): It uses natural tannins derived from plant sources like tree bark (oak, chestnut), roots, and fruits.
- ✅ Natural leather
- ✅ Chrome-free vegetable-dyed leather natural leather shoes
- ✅ Working Group certified
- ✅ Vegetable-Tanned Leather (The Gold Standard for non-toxicity)
- ✅ Each pair purchased contributes to saving the Amazon from deforestation.
- ✅ Handcrafted by skilled artisans in León, Mexico.
Commitment to the planet: putting natural materials and sustainability first, and crafted by skilled artisans in León, Mexico.
MATERIAL: Natural leather
Humble Suds Revive Yo' Boots Kit
💚Humble Suds Revive Yo' Boots Kit brings your boots and leather shoes back to life without toxic chemicals!
This organic boot kit revives your sustainable boots, natural leather shoes, leather men's shoes, and leather goods with organic ingredients.
Revival Boot+Leather Conditioner comes in a black stainless steel tin and can be applied with the soft cloth included. The natural brush features natural horsehair to buff shoes naturally and add high shine without scratching the delicate leather. It also comes with a small muslin bag to store these items.
Plus, it keeps your house free of dust and smelling beautiful. You can even use it to condition your organic cutting board and wooden utensils. Infused with white grapefruit essential oil for an added cleaning boost. Safer ingredient you can eat.
Directions: Test a small area prior to full application. After testing, apply with a dry cloth in a circular motion. Wipe away excess. Not recommended for use on suede. Store at room temp.
- ✅ Organic Ingredients
- ✅ Gluten-Free
- ✅ Vegan | Cruelty-free
- ✅ Phthalate-Free
- ✅ No Mineral Oil
INGREDIENTS: Organic cold expeller-pressed virgin coconut oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic raw beeswax, vegetable glycerin, grapefruit oil, and lemongrass oil.
Nisolo Sustainable Shoes
💖 Nisolo has a collection of sustainable leather shoes, leather sandals, leather boots, leather bags, leather backpacks, leather belts, and leather wallets.
✅ The Leather Working Group (LWG) Certified: the world’s leading environmental certification for leather manufacturing. They conduct intensive audits of leather manufacturers and assess every aspect of their operations.
✅ B Corp
They focus on the following 5 areas:
- People: Pursuing 100% living wages that cover the basic needs of People within supply chains.
- Planet: Pursuing 0% Net Carbon through the reduction and offsetting of carbon emissions.
- Transparency: Measuring, tracking, and publicly sharing Sustainability Facts in a digestible, consumer-facing label.
- Accountability: Validating practices through public-facing self-assessment, 3rd-party verification & certifications.
- Collaboration: Advocating for a more sustainable industry through interdisciplinary collaboration.
MATERIAL: Leather Working Group-certified