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Vegan leather vs real leather in 2026: which is actually better?
Mushroom, cactus, pineapple — next-gen vegan leathers now rival animal leather on feel and beat it on impact. Here's the full 2026 comparison.
May 27, 2026 · 6 min read · By VeggieOS Editorial
"Vegan leather" used to mean PVC plastic. In 2026, it can mean mushroom mycelium (Mylo), pineapple leaves (Piñatex), cactus (Desserto), apple peels, or grape marc — materials that rival leather in feel, beat it on carbon footprint, and skip the animal entirely.
The case against real leather
- Leather is a co-product of the beef and dairy industries — buying it funds both
- Tanning uses chromium salts; runoff devastates rivers in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan
- A 2017 Pulse of Fashion report ranked cow leather worst for environmental impact per kg
The case against bad vegan leather
PU and PVC "pleather" are petroleum plastics. They're better than animal leather on most impact metrics but still shed microplastics and don't biodegrade. Look for bio-based vegan leathers instead.
Next-gen vegan leathers worth buying
- Mylo — mushroom mycelium, used by Stella McCartney and Adidas
- Desserto — Mexican cactus, soft and surprisingly durable
- Piñatex — pineapple leaf fiber, used by H&M, Hugo Boss
- AppleSkin — apple industry waste, popular for watch straps and wallets
- Vegea — grape marc from wine production
Brands to know
Will's Vegan Store, Sylven New York, Matt & Nat, Stella McCartney, Veerah, Native Shoes, and Allbirds (Plant Pacer line) all use bio-based vegan leathers.