Leather from Cactus?

saving animals and the environment!

by Margaret DeStefano

Leather has a long and troubled past. The toxins used to tan the leather are often under fire as well as the treatment of animals. As one of the world's most traded products, leather is part of a booming $80 billion industry. But, its use of animal products and harsh chemicals makes leather problematic not only for animal rights activists but environmentalists. Vegan leather made from cacti can be used to create anything from wallets to shoes.

Currently, Desserto is the only manufacturer of cactus leather. The farming practices are certified organic and use only rainfall to water the crops mitigating the use of excess water. The process is energy efficient, using the sun to dry the cactus mulch versus other mechanical methods.The company uses a bio-polymer, which is partially made from organic renewable compounds.The dyes used to color the fabric are also organic. There is a byproduct, but Desserto makes sure the waste from the process is used. Most of it is used for animal feed, but it can be used in many other ways. The cactus, nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica), is known for its rugged, thick skin, which makes it the perfect texture to simulate animal leather. The idea of using nopal was conceived because this plant does not need any water to grow, and there is plenty of it throughout the Mexican Republic. Cactus leather appears to have a bright future ahead. Not only can growing cactus help the carbon emissions but the plant can be used in a multitude of ways.