Vegan Leather
Conventional Vegan 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.
❌ 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 Vegan Leather
Avoid Greenwashing vegan leather is 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 Vegan Leather
The best vegan leather is made with natural and sustainable materials
✅ Here is the most eco-friendly vegan leather on the market, made with renewable resources and also by-products, that is made with plant-based material that would have been wasted.
- 🍍Piñatex (Pineapple leather): made with leaf fiber leather Piñatex®inatex Organic material, made from pineapple leaves that result from the waste of the pineapple harvest. The fibres that are not used in Piñatex are distributed as fertilizer.
- 🍏 Apple leather: also known as AppleSkin, is a bio-based material made using the leftover pomace and peel from the fruit juice and compote industry. The fabric is created by first taking the recovered apple waste and reducing it to a powder. The apple leather used in our products is made using 50% apple waste mixed with 50% PU, coated onto a cotton/polyester canvas. Ecological, breathable, waterproof, and durable fabric has been a game-changer in the industry. Apple Leather
- 🌵 Cactus Leather: DESSERTO USDA-certified cactus is grown in an organic farming system in the fertile and mineral-rich region of Zacatecas, Mexico. Cactus naturally regenerate the soil. It takes approximately only 3 leaves of cactus to create one linear meter of Desserto.
- 🥭 Mango leather: Fruit Leather created by Koen Meerkerk and Hugo de Boon, crafted from natural mangos
- 🍄 Mushroom leather: Mylo
- 🌳 Cork: one of Portugal’s most treasured sustainable materials. This process is mindful of the trees with a goal of sustainable production every 9 years for a 150-year lifespan. Animal-free and plastic-free, each product is handcrafted in small batches by skilled Portuguese artisans.
- 🌿 Chrome-free vegetable-dyed leather: manufactured without chromium during the tanning process, and there are no harmful chemicals. It has a higher production cost.
Certifications
- ✅ 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.
- ✅ PETA-approved vegan. This certification ensures that we are reducing reliance on petroleum, increasing the 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.
- ✅ ReCORK: Recycled Cork replaces this foam with a totally sustainable alternative that is more comfortable, cushioning, light, durable, and, of course, way safer, sustainable, and eco-friendly.
- ✅ Certified non-toxic leather: tested to be chromium-free; naturally tanned with vegetable tanning. 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 Vegan Leather Brands
- 🌿 Nae Vegan Shoes 15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
- 🌿 SteamLine Luggage 15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
- 🌿 Tiradia Cork 10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
- 🌿 O My Bag
- 🌿 Koio
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
NAE Vegan Shoes
🌿NAE Vegan Shoes Organic Shoes. These sustainable vegan shoes are made with sustainable vegan leather.
Nae uses sustainable materials.
- ✅ Apple Skin: made from the waste from the apple juice industry. Ethically manufactured in Italy, with low-carbon material.
- ✅ Piñatex: Organic material made from pineapple leaves that result from the waste of the pineapple harvest.
- ✅ Organic Cotton: natural, non-genetically modified seeds, no pesticides, safer to the planet and the workers who grow it.
- ✅ Cork: ecological, water-resistant, hypoallergenic, and very soft to the touch.
- ✅ Corn: On Steam Bioeco is made from corn. A washable and breathable material.
- ✅ Recycled PET: Recycled material, known for its durability and lightness.
- ✅ OEKO-TEX Microfiber: Eco-friendly, anti-allergenic, breathable, and antimicrobial microfiber with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.
- ✅ FSC-certified packaging
- ✅ Made in Europe, Portugal, or Spain
MATERIAL: sustainable material
NAE Vegan Shoes Organic Men's Shoes
🌿NAE Vegan Shoes Organic Men's Shoes. These sustainable vegan men's shoes are made are made with sustainable vegan leather.
Nae uses sustainable materials.
- ✅ Apple Skin: made from the waste from the apple juice industry. Ethically manufactured in Italy, with low-carbon material.
- ✅ Piñatex: Organic material made from pineapple leaves that result from the waste of the pineapple harvest.
- ✅ Organic Cotton: natural, non-genetically modified seeds, no pesticides, safer to the planet and the workers who grow it.
- ✅ Cork: ecological, water-resistant, hypoallergenic, and very soft to the touch.
- ✅ Corn: On Steam Bioeco is made from corn. A washable and breathable material.
- ✅ Recycled PET: Recycled material, known for its durability and lightness.
- ✅ OEKO-TEX Microfiber: Eco-friendly, anti-allergenic, breathable, and antimicrobial microfiber with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.
- ✅ FSC-certified packaging
- ✅ Made in Europe, Portugal, or Spain
MATERIAL: sustainable material
SteamLine Sustainable Vegan Luggage
🌳 California Proposition 65 Warning - free eco-friendly luggage.
SteamLine is one of my favorite and number one sustainable luggage brand recommendations!
I found this brand and I was impressed with its pretty look. I reached the company and they confirmed they do not carry the CA Prop 65 warning! Yayy!
💖SteamLine’s vegan-leather luggage collection is not only retro chic but also designed to pack your getaway essentials like a mover and shaker.
🌿 Packs a lot while staying fabulously lightweight. The largest vegan leather suitcase features a chic blue and white stripe lining, complemented by a vibrant pink body, cream straps, and sleek silver hardware, including a telescopic handle.
Ensure your Spinner's exterior remains pristine with a protective nylon ripstop cover that matches its stylish interior.
Inside, practical elements like zippered lid pockets and a detachable door-hanger washbag, all in the signature blue and white stripes, facilitate seamless packing.
🌿 Their vegan suitcases are lightweight yet durable, this vintage designer set comes in four beautiful colorways. The vintage-style Entrepreneur luggage set in navy will keep you looking and feeling like the boss you are.
MATERIAL: vegan-leather
Tiradia Cork Sustainable Bags
🌿 Tiradia Cork Vegan Products are waterproof, lightweight, eco-friendly items that are handmade with love and cruelty-free! Tiradia cork products are absolutely stunning and make a beautiful alternative to leather options. With a durable backing, sturdy metal finishes
🌿 These sustainable bags are made with Cork, which is vegan, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, waterproof, lightweight, durable, biodegradable, and recyclable.
Since cork is a natural material, each product may have slight color, texture, or grain variation.
✨ Tiradia creates eco-conscious and mindful vegan accessories using cork, one of Portugal’s most treasured sustainable materials. Tiradia’s connection to cork runs deep. Co-founder Joana’s family has produced cork products for Portugal wineries since the 1920s, an endeavor passed down through the generations.
- ✅ Natural cork
- ✅ Vegan, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, waterproof, lightweight, durable, biodegradable, and recyclable
- ✅ Sustainably sourced cork, ethically produced
- ✅ PETA-approved, vegan, animal-free, cruelty-free
- ✅ Handmade in Aveiro, Portugal
- ✅ Plastic-free
MATERIAL: Made of natural cork, Handcrafted in Aveiro, Portugal
O My Bag Organic Men's Wallets
💖O My Bag Organic Wallets
These organic men's wallets are made sustainably with the most eco-friendly material on the market:
✅ 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
About the founder
Susanna Cellucci
Susanna Cellucci is the founder of PrettyOrganicGirl and a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach based in Beverly Hills, California. Since 2016 she has researched organic and non-toxic products ingredient by ingredient, and today the site covers more than 6,000 products and 700 organic brands across skincare, makeup, food, clothing, home and baby care. Every page is written by Susanna herself, and the site is 100% ad-free and independent. She holds a Master's in Marketing from the Milan Academy of Luxury, studied business and digital marketing at UCLA, and is Green Business Certified. Global companies including Chanel, Walmart and the Four Seasons have reached out to her about greener practices, and her push for titanium-dioxide-free makeup led several clean beauty brands to reformulate. Originally from Italy, she shares her picks with promo codes so that organic shopping can be for everyone.