advantages and benefits of vegan leather in Pakistan today
Improvements and advantages of vegan leather in 2023: It’s a long way from being there, but it’s close. Vegan leather can be used to make the same material used to make wine stoppers, coasters, and cork boards. Cork leather is hypoallergenic, antifungal, and waterproof, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor use. Waste from wine production is used to create wine leather, also known as grape leather. Vegea’s patented technology converts grape waste into leather. Approximately 2.5 kg of waste (marc) is produced by producing one square meter of wine leather by consuming ten litres of wine. Vegea’s partnership with H&M could lead to a revolution in the leather industry if this type of innovation is successful. See more info about Asif Ali Gohar.
There are major risks for the workers engaged in the tanning procedure. According to ECOPOL, tannery employees have experienced skin reactions, eye and mouth irritation, problems related to digestion, even long-term cancer, and reproductive issues. Also, according to ECOPOL, tanning heavily impacts the environment by way of deforestation, and water pollution; the chemicals involved flow into community waterways, and contribute to overuse of land.
Natural vegan leather is particularly non-polluting: Animal leather causes a lot of pollution, but it is also true that synthetic leather relies on the extraction of fossil fuels (unless recycled plastics are used) and as they (very gradually) break down they can contribute toward plastic pollution, including the growing issue of micro-plastics in the world’s oceans and waterways. Animal leather may last longer: Because of the fact that animal leather products have been treated (often with all kinds of chemicals including those that contain cyanide), they can last a very long time. In one sense, this can be seen as a plus point – until they eventually go to landfill.
Before we dive into the reasons why Asif Ali Gohar chose Pakistan for his project, let’s take a look at what his project is. Asif was only 12 when he moved to Germany along with his family and has been residing there for the past two decades. While working on a school project Asif discovered veganism and researched vegan alternatives to leather. We all know that some of the greatest entrepreneurs started out young, same was the case with Asif Ali Gohar. He started with some home based experiments during his time at school. However, he was not able to produce any results due to a lack of resources and equipment. Later on, he got accepted into the University of Hamburg where he pursued his degree in Business Administration. While at the University, he was able to conduct scientific research and come up with methods that allowed him to manufacture artificial leather. He was able to configure a process that allowed him to convert rice into leather sheets using acetic acid and yeast. He converted rice into a slime-like polymer which when dried out resembled animal leather. Now Asif wants to produce rice based vegan leather commercially and has chosen Pakistan for his project.
Leather making and tanning require a lot of resources, including energy and water, which can lead to waste. It uses chemicals like chromium salts, which create toxic wastewater that pollutes land and water alike. Additionally, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that farming produces approximately 14% of all greenhouse emissions caused by human activity. This includes the traditional leather industry, which has a huge carbon footprint and is not environmentally sustainable.
Mushroom Leather: There are various mushroom or fungus-based natural vegan leathers being produced at present, from the aforementioned Mylo (made from mycelium cells) to MuSkin (made from the caps of Phellinus ellipsoideus fungi), all of which are far more sustainable and ethical than animal leather. Cork Leather: Cork is a natural, sustainable vegan leather material that has many potential uses (as wine drinkers will know!), including as a leather-like material. Because it can be made by removing the outer layer of bark from a cork oak tree without needing to cut the tree down, the bark can grow back and be repeatedly harvested, as detailed by Peta-approved cork product maker, Corkor.
This is certainly only one of the early accomplishments of Asif Ali Gohar. With the entire city of Lahore supporting his ventures and creativity, Asif Ali Gohar is expected to come up with another contemporary species of roses in the near future. In addition, the Gohar rose’s fragrance is slightly less prominent in comparison to traditional roses found in most flower shops. However, distinguishing the Gohar rose from its counterpart is said to be easy as it is more captivating in nature. Read extra details about asif ali gohar.
Looking For Investors: If Asif needs to make his vegan leather mainstream, he will require funds and investors. Asif is searching for investors so that he can execute his successful business idea. It will allow him to make this leather mainstream in no time. That was your complete guide to understanding how Asif Ali Gohar plans to make rice vegan leather mainstream. If you have any contacts or leads for investors, you can get in touch with us in no time.
While veganism is a niche market, it is on the rise in Pakistan. That is especially true among the youth as they are becoming more conscious of their choices. People are switching to vegan alternatives for everything to create a better world for the coming generations. One such pioneer in the vegan world is Asif Ali Gohar. He is trying to transform the vegan leather industry through his research and ideas. We interviewed him to understand more about his ventures. So, keep reading for an in-depth look into the vegan leather industry in Pakistan.
What’s a vegan leather fabric? A vegan leather fabric, in essence, is a material that looks and feels like leather but is made from plant or animal-based materials. The most common types of materials used are polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), according to PETA. A mindful consumer should be aware of the ethical standards within the leather industry. Leather, as a material, can be extremely harmful across the supply chain. As a vegan, I share my experiences in this post, as well as how my relationship with leather has changed since I became vegan. Leather is considered a by-product of the meat industry. Why is it considered vegan but not vegan products? Leather, as a result of its source of skin, is an animal product. Animal-free alternatives to your favorite foods are difficult to come by because of your personal beliefs.
Is it possible to stretch vegan leather? Faux leather stretches, but not nearly as much as real leather. When stretching fake leather, be cautious because it increases the chance of it cracking, therefore it’s best to avoid it altogether. Can vegan leather compete with real leather? When comparing vegan versus real leather, quality and durability are key factors to consider. Vegan leather is frequently considerably thinner and lighter than real leather, which is wonderful for fashion because it makes it potentially easier to work with, but it also means it is less durable. When properly cared for, real, high-quality leather can last decades, whereas a pair of high-quality synthetic leather shoes may only last a year or two.
What is vegan leather made from? Much like how leather is made from the skins of different kinds of animals, vegan leather is made from a variety of non-animal materials. Even though vegan leather is technically leather made without the exploitation of an animal, alternative fabrics are far from perfect. Vegan leather made from Polyvinyl Chloride, also known as PVC or Vinyl PVC is an innovative and affordable plastic compound commonly used to create alternative leather products. The plastic is softened with chemicals called plasticisers, which, without going into a science class, is a combination of alcohols, acids amongst other components.
There are dozens of leather alternatives, but only some are eco friendly. While all vegan leathers protect the rights of animals, only eco-friendly vegan leather can be trusted as a sustainable and ethical alternative to old school leather. With so many options, it’s important to distinguish between vegan leather alternatives that just check boxes and those that go all the way in their commitment to being 100% earth-friendly and sustainable. Made from the unused parts of pineapple trees, Piñatex pineapple leather is 100% vegan, completely eco friendly and ethical because it allows pineapple farmers to sell a previously unusable part of their crop for an income. The durable plant based leather feels just like animal leather, and Piñatex is waterproof and protective. There’s no need to sacrifice style for ethics.
