...

me:

Yes, it is plastic. Which means it’s breaking down and releasing micro-particles into the environment.

That’s bad.

There’s also the whole “plastic comes from oil” issue and no, most vegan leather is not made from plant based plastic or recycled plastic.

It’s also not recyclable itself.

It wears out faster, and is less repairable, so you’ll have to buy new boots or whatever every couple of years instead of like. Once every decade and getting them occasionally fixed (for typically less than the cost of a new pair of vegan leather boots).

One of the attorneys I work with has a beat-up leather briefcase he was gifted when he passed the bar. In the 70s.

Another attorney bought a vegan leather one last year and he already has had to replace it.

It doesn’t “breath,” so your boots are more likely to smell than if they were made of leather.

It won’t form to your feet over time, so it’s less comfortable.

It also isn’t anywhere near as warm in the winter.

It doesn’t protect against various dangers and, in some cases, could make things much worse for the wearer. Ever had plastic melted to your skin? It’s not fun.

I know someone that professionally butchers local livestock and game. A few years ago, she would sell hides to various manufacturers. Now, she can’t even pay people to take hides. Her shop had to buy a bigger dumpster to hold the hides because they can’t get rid of them.

Because no one wants leather anymore.

(I could go on and on about the ethics of the meat industry in america, but to stay on topic, I won’t. Send me an ask if you want to talk about it. Same goes for initial cost issues for low income people, because I know that’s also a major thing)

Basically, as long as there is a market for beef in America, there will be hides that can be turned into leather. Yes, I know, there are a lot more complex issues in this, what with capitalism and all. See previous paragraph.