Being vegan does not always mean being a responsible advocate for the planet. For instance, some “ethical” eaters rely on food shipped from other countries (such as papaya, bananas, and mango) to subsist. Others regularly buy plastic-based attire (like vegan “leather”) to avoid the real deal. Fortunately, it's now slightly easier for animal advocates to look great and live mindfully.
A small company in Toronto, Canada, developed vegan leather made from apple peels which are recycled from the juicing industry. The sisters behind the fashion line SAMARA launched their Mini purse, that is the first object made out of the new “apple leather.”
The two sisters said that they were inspired to develop their product to replace the petroleum-based materials which are typically used to make vegan leather. During an interview with TreeHugger, the designers said that they're currently using polyurethane (PU) as a binding agent. Nevertheless, they reassured readers that the glue is still a more eco-friendly material than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is commonly used in the textile industry.
The Mini is on sale at the SAMARA website. For $50 each, they're not cheap. Nevertheless, a portion of every purchase made through the company’s website helps to send a “solar-powered backpack” to a kid in East Africa.
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