As climate change puts more and more pressure on everyone - the need for sustainable products and practices grows more than ever. Here at Soneha, we believe through the power of fashion you can have a positive impact on a person’s self esteem without making a negative impact on the environment. The production of animal leather hurts our environment, animals and the workers who manufacture it.
For our vegan products we are using DESSERTO® cactus leather.
The cactus leather is an alternative leather that replaces traditional animal leather. It was founded by two entrepreneurs in Mexico by using nopal cactus leaves.
Why Nopal Cactus?
The Nopal Cactus, often also called ‘prickly pear’, is a very resilient and a natural carbon sink plant. The plants at the cactus leather farm are able to absorb 8,100 tons of CO2 per year.
Cactus also naturally regenerates soil and can grow in severely degraded soils, which are inadequate for other crops.
How Is Cactus Leather Made?
Only mature leaves of the cactus plant are cut while making the cactus leather. The harvest is repeated every 6-8 months from the same plants.
It takes approximately 3 leaves of cactus to create one linear meter of DESSERTO® cactus leather. It is grown in the region of Zacatecas, Mexico in an organic USDA certified farm.
When the cactus leaves are cut, they are pounded and afterward sun-dried for 3 days. Whenever the right degree of dampness is accomplished, the substance is blended in with non-poisonous synthetics and appended to a support.
DESSERTO® cactus leather is made with no toxic synthetic substances, phthalates or PVC.
Cactus Leather Uses:
Cactus leather can be used for footwear, accessories, garment production, bifold wallets etc. This vegan leather enabled us to create wonderful cactus leather shoes and wallets designs with practicality and durability.
Make sure to check it out!
Is Cactus leather sustainable?
Yes! DESSERTO® cactus leather is made with no toxic synthetic substances, phthalates or PVC and has a long term life range. Water use in Desserto® for Cradle to gate (per m2 leather) is 0.02 comparative to animal leather which is 32.95. Here are few awesome facts about DESSERTO® cactus leather sustainability from their website:
- All the remaining organic cactus material not used in the cactus leather process is exported and sold nationally in the food industry.
- Environmental preservation as no chemicals are used like herbicides or pesticides.
- Cactus is left unharmed to enable repeated harvesting from the same plant.
- Energy savings by drying the feed-stock in a solarium.
- Full vision and traceability of the USDA certified farm to ensure sustainable social practices.
- Cactus is a tough and resilient species, adapted to extreme conditions able to survive in areas where nothing else will grow.
- It only takes 200 liters to grow 2 lbs. of cactus biomass which water is absorbed by the plant itself from humidity present in the atmosphere vs. 1000 liters (on average) to grow the same lbs.
- Cacti can grow in severely degraded soils, which are inadequate for other crops
Would you utilize an item produced using vegan cactus leather?
If yes, make sure to look at our cactus leather card wallet & cactus leather shoes!
Now with Soneha, you can express your independent spirit without having a negative impact on the environment, animals and people who manufacture it.