Fact Check

Fact check: Is plastic really recyclable?

Almost a quarter of a billion tonnes of plastic is manufactured every year. Considering it takes up to 500 years to biodegrade, it’s a good job we can recycle it, right?

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Can leather alternatives be as durable as the real thing?

In the thousands of years leather has been in use, there has never been a serious contender to rival it for durability. Have any of the new materials offered as alternatives come close?

Is leather more sustainable than manmade alternatives?

Amid all the confusion about how to calculate the sustainability of different materials, we need to put the record straight: Leather is more sustainable than manmade alternatives.

What happens to leather at the end of its useful life?

Longevity is leather’s strong suit. The beauty is that it can be repaired, restored, enjoyed for a lifetime, and passed down through the generations. Despite its durability, though, people still throw their leather items away.

How much water does it really take to produce a burger?

According to the Water Footprint Network (WFN), it takes 15,400 litres on average globally to produce a kilo of beef, which works out at 1925 litres for a pure beef quarter-pounder. But what does this really

If we stopped using leather, would fewer cattle be reared?

There are often claims that wearing and using leather leads to the rearing, and therefore the killing, of more cattle. Here’s why these claims are

Chrome truths

Chrome tanning: how does it work and why is there so much confusion about it? The most widely used technique in worldwide leather production, and the most efficient, chrome tanning is used in the production of around 85% of all

What do the names of ‘leather alternatives’ mean?

Vegan leather, pleather, leatherette – despite their names there is one thing all these materials have in common – they are not leather.

Would crops fed to cattle be used more effectively by feeding people?

Depending on whose estimate you take and how cattle are reared, it takes 20-40 kilos of feed to produce one kilo of beef. Those estimates often lead to the claim that if that feed were given directly to people it would nourish them more

Is leather really a by-product?

US hides have been valued at less than 2% of a cow’s total value for the last two years, which is why they are considered a by-product and often end up as waste.

Do Leather Farms Exist?

Many animal rights campaigners claim that the use of leather contributes to the death of animals, it is also claimed that farms exist purely for the creation of leather – can this be true?