There’s nothing like the smell and touch real leather, especially leather in true luxury automobiles. I recall, years ago, when my wife and I had just been to an International auto show and had sat in the cabin of Audi A8. The leather in the A8 is something else. A few days later we looked into purchasing a Tesla S, but after sitting in its cabin-there was no comparison. The Model S’ cabin was so staid, plain, and the seats were like planks. The Model S’ cabin was pathetic compared to the Audi A8. I cannot see why Tesla considers itself in the luxury automobile category, because it’s not. The smell of high grade treated leathers is something hard to forget and certainly something to appreciate.
This is a huge part of the reason why we developed our vegan leather products in the first place. The Tesla Model S vegan leather seats we first started seeing all those years ago really did feel like planks and it was one of the factors that lead us to develop a softening conditioner specifically for vegan leather.
Great video! Would be interesting to hear more about air quality inside the car with plastic-based leather, which emit chemicals into the air. Is there testing on this?
That is a great question! There is certainly a possibility that some off-gassing may still be present even after the vehicle has long left the factory. We'll have to do some more research on this topic before we can say anything definitively, however.
As you hinted at in your video; all Vegan leather even if it's got plant fibre in it, is still laminated together with plastics and/or chemically combined with polyurethanes. There is absolutely no environmental upside to Vegan leather. It is NOT biodegradable and it is NOT recyclable as a plastic product as the addition of organic fibre to the plastic laminate is not separable. In fact, all that organic matter that is used in vegan leather becomes trapped with the plastic component preventing it's degradation were it otherwise left alone. Absolutely every fake leather is bad for the environment. Real leather is the only way you're going to ensure it's not going to pollute a landfill for the next 300 years, or have plastics that work their way up the food chain as a pollutant. Anyone that believes they're doing a good thing for the environment by choosing vegan leather needs to understand, they're actually doing the exact opposite. If you are able to choose; then choose real leather, and at best, vegetable tanned leather. It is the more environmentally safe choice. Thanks for the video, there's a lot of info to unpack here.
Definitely an important thing to mention! One important exception is Mirum, which actually contains zero plastic and is actually compostable. It's still very new however and few consumer goods are actually made from it at this point, so it might be a few years before it's a viable alternative.
@@DrBeasleys I just read a blog post which covers all of the details of the product. On the surface, it does sound better than the other alternatives currently available. They however don't mentione it's durability, or composting information. Such as time, and environmental requirements for it to complete. It would be good to see some actual scientific tests, but that's way past the scope of the article I read. PLA, or polylactic acid, is a natural plastic made of plant starch, it's biodegradable but left alone, it takes about 300 years to degrade. So this Mirum, seems a step in the right direction, but I would hold judgement until we have all the details!
Great to hear an expert speak about this as more people need to know. Also, not to forget - plastics-based leather, which commonly includes PVC, emits toxic chemicals (VOCs) into the air. I don't want to buy a car where I'm concerned about indoor air quality. My current car has textile. If I ever buy a Tesla, it will be with the bamboo leather option from unplugged performance despite the much higher cost. I'd like to see testing on air quality in cars.
Uh...Jeff, your 'speech' is so 'Trumpish' (nothing but selfish perspective), that I don't even know if a class in LARGE scale environmentalism & compassion would make a difference with you...but I hope you learn a few things before you spew out your myopic opinions.
@@VEGANSAM I'm sorry that you were offended by the factual information presented in my explanation of the reality of Vegan, or fake leathers. At no point in my post did I attack Vegans and through association, you personally. Your repeated attacks directed at me on the other hand, do nothing to refute the truth of what I've explained. Let's distill down your personal attacks to the following: Attack #1, calling my reply a "speech" implies a "soap box" type of tirade by someone attempting a political expression, typically someone who would be considered, and I'll use the British slang, "A Nutter" IE: a mad or eccentric person. I guess one could say my original post could be considered accusatory, but if it's anything, then it's accusatory of the misuse of the term Vegan to market chemically derived plastic, non-organic products. (using the term Vegan implies that the material is good for the earth and is pure marketing spin.) Attack #2, "Trumpish" attempts to put me into a category that socially speaking, has a negative connotation attached to it, attempting to discredit my social standing. If you had decided to do a little research on who you were attacking, you might have learned that I'm an artist, designer, potter, digital modeler and general creative. I really don't think I fit the category you're trying to slot me into. Attack #3, you said that even classes in LARGE scale environmentalism wouldn't help teach me, implying that I am just to stubborn or stupid to learn or understand, and in the same breath... Attack #4, and I'll paraphrase..."learn a few things" "spewing, myopic opinions." How should I unpack this coup-de-grace? Well, what I explained about fake vs real leather is Fact, not Opinion. I might even go so far to say that your reply carries it's own myopic sensibility. Overall, your reply was simply a personal attack on my character, intended to tear down my social standing, and by association, my original post. Your reply to me has not given a rebuttal of any of the points I presented, it therefore carries absolutely no weight. I'm more than happy to debate the validity of the points I presented if you wish to present counterpoints that may change my mind, but if you would prefer to debase your position with simple name calling and gaslighting, then I will say no more. (I apologize for being so verbose, I will admit I enjoy writing way too much.)
There’s nothing like the smell and touch real leather, especially leather in true luxury automobiles. I recall, years ago, when my wife and I had just been to an International auto show and had sat in the cabin of Audi A8. The leather in the A8 is something else. A few days later we looked into purchasing a Tesla S, but after sitting in its cabin-there was no comparison. The Model S’ cabin was so staid, plain, and the seats were like planks. The Model S’ cabin was pathetic compared to the Audi A8. I cannot see why Tesla considers itself in the luxury automobile category, because it’s not. The smell of high grade treated leathers is something hard to forget and certainly something to appreciate.
This is a huge part of the reason why we developed our vegan leather products in the first place. The Tesla Model S vegan leather seats we first started seeing all those years ago really did feel like planks and it was one of the factors that lead us to develop a softening conditioner specifically for vegan leather.
@@DrBeasleys I am already a fan of Dr. Beasley’s products. They are always a wee bit different-in a good way-than their competitors.
Great information, well done thx.
Great video! Would be interesting to hear more about air quality inside the car with plastic-based leather, which emit chemicals into the air. Is there testing on this?
That is a great question! There is certainly a possibility that some off-gassing may still be present even after the vehicle has long left the factory. We'll have to do some more research on this topic before we can say anything definitively, however.
Thank you so much for this!!
Hey Chris, any videos coming for your Vegan Leather Kits? and how to use properly?
Thank you
Hi, is there any way to contact you? I would like to know a bit more on vegan leather. Thanks!
Please email us at myteam@drbeasleys.com with any questions!
@@DrBeasleys Thanks! Just reached out.
You missed the OG called Naguhyde. PVC but is good.
So interesting to read about all the early materials before "vegan" was even a thing. There's even older faux leathers like Presstoff or Rexine!
Like your videos, very informative, not sure why you have to yell in your videos?
It's stunning & a shame that Tesla is the only auto company on Earth that doesn't use any leather at all.
Funny that vinyl seats are now being marketed as "vegan leather".
You can fool some of the people all of the time........
How to clean vegan leather my mobile back vegan leather
As you hinted at in your video; all Vegan leather even if it's got plant fibre in it, is still laminated together with plastics and/or chemically combined with polyurethanes. There is absolutely no environmental upside to Vegan leather. It is NOT biodegradable and it is NOT recyclable as a plastic product as the addition of organic fibre to the plastic laminate is not separable. In fact, all that organic matter that is used in vegan leather becomes trapped with the plastic component preventing it's degradation were it otherwise left alone. Absolutely every fake leather is bad for the environment. Real leather is the only way you're going to ensure it's not going to pollute a landfill for the next 300 years, or have plastics that work their way up the food chain as a pollutant. Anyone that believes they're doing a good thing for the environment by choosing vegan leather needs to understand, they're actually doing the exact opposite. If you are able to choose; then choose real leather, and at best, vegetable tanned leather. It is the more environmentally safe choice. Thanks for the video, there's a lot of info to unpack here.
Definitely an important thing to mention! One important exception is Mirum, which actually contains zero plastic and is actually compostable. It's still very new however and few consumer goods are actually made from it at this point, so it might be a few years before it's a viable alternative.
@@DrBeasleys I just read a blog post which covers all of the details of the product. On the surface, it does sound better than the other alternatives currently available. They however don't mentione it's durability, or composting information. Such as time, and environmental requirements for it to complete. It would be good to see some actual scientific tests, but that's way past the scope of the article I read. PLA, or polylactic acid, is a natural plastic made of plant starch, it's biodegradable but left alone, it takes about 300 years to degrade. So this Mirum, seems a step in the right direction, but I would hold judgement until we have all the details!
Great to hear an expert speak about this as more people need to know. Also, not to forget - plastics-based leather, which commonly includes PVC, emits toxic chemicals (VOCs) into the air. I don't want to buy a car where I'm concerned about indoor air quality. My current car has textile. If I ever buy a Tesla, it will be with the bamboo leather option from unplugged performance despite the much higher cost. I'd like to see testing on air quality in cars.
Uh...Jeff, your 'speech' is so 'Trumpish' (nothing but selfish perspective), that I don't even know if a class in LARGE scale environmentalism & compassion would make a difference with you...but I hope you learn a few things before you spew out your myopic opinions.
@@VEGANSAM I'm sorry that you were offended by the factual information presented in my explanation of the reality of Vegan, or fake leathers. At no point in my post did I attack Vegans and through association, you personally. Your repeated attacks directed at me on the other hand, do nothing to refute the truth of what I've explained. Let's distill down your personal attacks to the following: Attack #1, calling my reply a "speech" implies a "soap box" type of tirade by someone attempting a political expression, typically someone who would be considered, and I'll use the British slang, "A Nutter" IE: a mad or eccentric person. I guess one could say my original post could be considered accusatory, but if it's anything, then it's accusatory of the misuse of the term Vegan to market chemically derived plastic, non-organic products. (using the term Vegan implies that the material is good for the earth and is pure marketing spin.) Attack #2, "Trumpish" attempts to put me into a category that socially speaking, has a negative connotation attached to it, attempting to discredit my social standing. If you had decided to do a little research on who you were attacking, you might have learned that I'm an artist, designer, potter, digital modeler and general creative. I really don't think I fit the category you're trying to slot me into. Attack #3, you said that even classes in LARGE scale environmentalism wouldn't help teach me, implying that I am just to stubborn or stupid to learn or understand, and in the same breath... Attack #4, and I'll paraphrase..."learn a few things" "spewing, myopic opinions." How should I unpack this coup-de-grace? Well, what I explained about fake vs real leather is Fact, not Opinion. I might even go so far to say that your reply carries it's own myopic sensibility. Overall, your reply was simply a personal attack on my character, intended to tear down my social standing, and by association, my original post. Your reply to me has not given a rebuttal of any of the points I presented, it therefore carries absolutely no weight. I'm more than happy to debate the validity of the points I presented if you wish to present counterpoints that may change my mind, but if you would prefer to debase your position with simple name calling and gaslighting, then I will say no more. (I apologize for being so verbose, I will admit I enjoy writing way too much.)
Vegan leather sucks, personally I love real high quality leather.