FAQs

Is it possible to buy humanely obtained leather?

The sheer number of animals required to meet America's meat habit and demand for skins makes humane treatment impossible. Animals are kept in overcrowded conditions on feedlots and factory farms, often unable to take a single step or turn around and deprived of all that is natural to them, including exercise, sunlight-and even the feel of grass beneath their feet.

At the slaughterhouse, more horrors await. A Washington Post investigation found that animals are routinely skinned and dismembered while they are still alive. Some examples: According to the Post, federal inspectors found live cattle dangling from an overhead chain at a plant in Texas. Videotape from another plant shows hogs kicking and squealing as they are lowered into a tank of scalding water, which is used to soften their skin.

Such abuses are all too common. Says a worker at a slaughterhouse in Washington state, "The line is never stopped simply because an animal is alive."

The animals are already dead-shouldn't we use their skins?

The animals are dead only because there is a demand for their flesh and skin. If the demand decreases, fewer animals will be killed. You can "vote" for compassion every time you shop, simply by refusing to support industries that hurt animals and choosing humane alternatives instead.

Isn't leather better for the environment than synthetics?

The leather industry has tried to convince consumers that skins are "eco-friendly," but leather is not "green." Leather products are loaded with chemicals to keep them from decomposing in the buyer's closet, and leather production pollutes the environment and gobbles up precious resources.

Formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, and various oils, dyes, and finishes-some of them cyanide-based-are used to turn animal skins into finished leather goods. Most leather produced in the United State is chrome-tanned. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all wastes containing chromium are hazardous. Tannery effluent also contains large amounts of other pollutants, such as lime sludge, sulfides, and acids.

And don't forget: Unlike pleather, the "real thing" causes millions of animals to suffer every single year.

For more info, see our Leather and the Environment page.

Some synthetic shoes make my feet sweat.

The newest synthetics are actually superior to real skins. For example, Chlorenol (called Hydrolite by Avia and Durabuck by Nike), which is used in athletic and hiking shoes, is an innovative new material that "breathes," stretches around the foot with the same "give" as leather, and provides great support. It can even be popped in the washing machine-try that with your leather sneakers!

What am I supposed to do with the leather I already have?

Once they learn what happens to animals in the leather trade, many people decide to shed their skins for good. But not everyone can afford to throw out all their old clothes and buy an entirely new cruelty-free wardrobe all at once. Some people do stop wearing leather overnight; others gradually replace leather goods with animal-friendly gear. Do what feels right to you. Fortunately, pleather and other leather alternatives not only save animal lives-they'll save you money, too. Many pleather products are much cheaper than the real thing, and they often last a lot longer!

If you do decide to clear your closet-and your conscience-of leather all at once, one option is to send your unwanted skins to PETA. We'll use them in anti-leather demos and other educational events. Your donation is tax-deductible-and it could save a life!

Send unwanted leather items to:

Major Gifts
PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

Where can I get cool nonleather gear?

Skin-free shopping is a cinch these days-dozens of hip designers and brands, including l.e.i., Paul Frank, Kenneth Cole, Dr. Martens, Skechers, Delia's, and Rocket Dog, offer stylish leather-free fashions from belts and bags to shoes and jackets. Some discount shoe and variety stores like Payless Shoe Source and Fayva offer especially large selections.

Sources for nonleather items, including mail-order catalogs and cyber shops, can be found here.

Want more? Download PETA's leather factsheet, request a free copy of our "Compassionate Clothing Guide", or pick up a "Fake, for the Animals' Sake" patch to let others know that leather is cruel, not cool.

Whether made from a cat, cow or kangaroo, leather is an accessory to murder. It's easy to have a look that kills-without killing animals-with these cruelty-free alternatives.

Why Should Animals Have Rights?

Supporters of animal rights believe that animals have an inherent worth—a value completely separate from their usefulness to humans. We believe that every creature with a will to live has a right to live free from pain and suffering. For more information, click here.