Leather

Degrading

Leather biodegrades slowly—taking 25 to 40 years to decompose
In contrast, vinyl and petrochemical-derived materials take 500 or more years to decompose
Leather made of fungi or mushroom-based materials are completely biodegradable

Tanning prevents the leather from decaying

Two Types of Tanning, Differences, ytb

Chrome Tanning (chemical)
- Chrome/chemical tanning, ytb
- faster, resulting in more flexible
- doesn't have the same aging properties
- tanned using chromium sulfate and other chromium salts
Veg taning
- Veg tanning, ytb
- Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water
  - tends to discolor, and if left to soak and
  - then dry, it shrinks and becomes harder
  - In hot water, it shrinks drastically and partly congeals, becoming rigid and eventually brittle.

Cattle
Sheep (13%)
Goats (11%%)
Buffalo
Pigs (10%)
Hogs
Ostriches
Seals
Alligators, snakes, crocodiles
Horse
- Very durable
- Shell cordovan
  - made from under layer only found in equine species
  - mirror-like finish and anti-creasing properties
Lamb \& Deer
- more expensive/soft
- deerskin - gloves/indoor shoes
Kagaroo
- strong and flexible
- motorcyclists use for abrasion resistance
- used for bullwhips lolll
Stingray
- used in Thailand
- tough \& durable
- wallets/belts
- sword grip in china/scotland/japan
- also motorcycle gloves