Why YSK: The term “Genuine Leather” is a marketing term to sell the lowest quality leather possible.
When purchasing a leather product, look for full grain leather or top grain leather instead. These will provide a much higher quality cut of leather that will look and feel much better and last for much longer.
They’re not a byproduct. Their sale directly supports the deforestation of the Amazon
https://twitter.com/matthewhayek/status/1646145797698756610?t=AL_msrN0woNtB7gqF_pv7A&s=19
It’s a byproduct, an activist tweeter notwithstanding. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef. (Source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2019/july/brazil-once-again-becomes-the-world-s-largest-beef-exporter/ )
Just because America has more of a need for Brazilian leather than their beef does not mean it isn’t a byproduct.
A byproduct is defined as “something produced in a usually industrial or biological process in addition to the principal product.” The principle product is beef.
Also, the claim that leather isn’t biodegradable is misleading at best. Leather still breaks down, and it does do far faster than plastic alternatives and without shedding microplastics. https://ecocult.com/leather-may-be-natural-but-is-it-biodegradable/