Consumers Want to Know the Whole Story Behind Your Products

Today’s environmentally conscious consumers are smart, savvy, and have a wealth of information at their fingertips. When they choose to buy a vegan, cruelty-free or eco-friendly product, they are researching how it’s made and what it’s made of, and they’re thinking of the long-ranging impacts of the materials and production process.

Vegan leather is no exception. In the past, those looking for a cruelty-free clothing option that looks and feels like leather were stuck with options made from plastics like PVC, polyurethane and textile-polymer microfibers, products like Naugahyde and pleather. While these faux-leather products don’t use animal products, they still hurt the environment.

Innovators are rising to the challenge to find an eco-friendly vegan leather to replace plastic-based faux leather, but savvy consumers make it vital that they clarify the difference. This is where a vegan public relations agency can help, refining the message and helping set real vegan leather apart from plastics.

Say No to Pleather

Why are plastic-derived leather alternatives a bad idea? There are several reasons.

  1. Non-Renewable Resource: Petroleum is used to make plastics, and the collection and consumption of this resource is hazardous for the environment.
  2. Pollution: The plastic manufacturing process creates chemical byproducts that are released into the air we breathe. Certain plastics continue to put off toxic chemicals after manufacture, too.
  3. Harm to Animals: Plastic pollution is harmful to wildlife, especially marine wildlife. Even if your plastic-derived vegan leather never sees a landfill, it still sheds microplastics every day, and these make their way into rivers, streams and the ocean.

Consumers know and care about these problems, so new product marketing should emphasize a holistic approach to cruelty-free and environmentally friendly clothing.

New Products Available

Pioneers in the textile and fashion industry are finding beautiful, durable materials that mimic the look and feel of leather without harming animals or causing environmental damage. These range from recycled materials to plant-based leather substitutes like cork.

One of these innovative materials is Piñatex, created from pineapple leaves discarded during harvest. The manufacturing process is easy on the environment, doesn’t harm animals and gives an additional source of income to farming communities.

Finding plant-based alternatives to animal products is what the vegan and cruelty-free movements are all about. At Orange Orchard, we are excited to spread the word about innovative materials that benefit humans, animals and the planet we all call home. If you would like to learn more about what a vegan public relations agency can do for your brand, call us today at (865) 977-1973 or contact Orange Orchard online.