‘In the meat and dairy industries, the flesh and skin of slaughtered cows are sold for a profit. For this reason, these industries define leather as a ‘co-product’.

References:
Stock Journal
Meat and Livestock Victoria
ABC Rural

‘The skins of newborn male calves killed in the dairy industry are especially valuable because they are so soft.’

References:
RSPCA
The Weekly Times

‘The global leather market is valued at over $95 billion US dollars.’

Reference:
Business Wire

‘All of these materials are better for the environment than leather, which is the single most environmentally impactful material to produce.’

Reference:
Global Fashion Agenda, The Boston Consulting Group 

‘Raising cattle for slaughter results in enormous greenhouse gas emissions…’

References:
Global Fashion Agenda, The Boston Consulting Group 
The University of Melbourne: Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute

‘…and mass clearing of native land around the world, including in Australia and the Amazon rainforest.’

References:
The Wilderness Society
CSIRO via Veg Vic
The University of Melbourne: Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
World Bank 
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations

‘This mass land clearing also results in habitat loss for wild animals, leading to species endangerment and extinction.’

References:
CSIRO
The Guardian

Learn more about cows and the leather industry, and about dressing vegan for the planet.