14/02/2025
Leather Biodegradability: Another Reason to Embrace Leather
We often hear about massive floating "islands" of plastic polluting our oceans. But have you ever wondered why leather is never part of that conversation?
One possible explanation: leather is a natural, biodegradable material. Unlike plastic, which lingers in the environment for centuries, leather naturally breaks down at the end of its life.
When produced using natural or biobased tanning agents and biodegradable additives, leather can decompose in industrial composting in as little as 20 days (as highlighted in Karl Flowers’ article, “Opportunities at Leather’s End-of-Life,” ILM, Sep-Oct 2024). That’s a timeframe comparable to vegetable waste, which takes 5–30 days!
Let’s be clear: all materials eventually biodegrade, but what sets leather apart is its ability to decompose quickly (20–60 days) and safely for the environment, transforming—under the right conditions—into compost that enriches the soil with vital nutrients.
This unique feature makes leather not only a valuable part of the circular economy, but also one of the most sustainable fashion materials.
And that’s just one of many reasons to choose leather!
Biodegradability refers to the process by which organic materials are broken down by microorganisms into simpler components like carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia.
Compostability, a measure of biodegradation, refers to the ability of a material to break down into biomass without releasing harmful or toxic substances—provided it does not contain hazardous components that persist after decomposition.
Any leather can be composted but the speed of degradation and environmental impact depends on the tanning chemistry used.
Producing fully biodegradable leather requires advanced technological solutions, and the industry is making incredible strides in this area. But even conventionally produced European leather demonstrates the ability to decompose naturally, and here are the studies to back it up.
Source: LeatherUK
