In a time when the well-being of our planet is more crucial than ever, adopting eco-friendly practices has become more imperative than ever before.
After all, the consequences of climate change, deforestation, pollution, and resource depletion are evident. According to Earth.Org, the amount of CO2 has increased to 420.00 PPM (parts per million), as of May 2023. On the other hand, the average global temperature has increased roughly around 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the pre-industrial times (1880-1900). This is why it’s our shared duty to take action and reduce our carbon footprint for a more sustainable future. One of the best ways to do this is through using eco-friendly materials.
Enter cowhide, an eco-friendly choice that seamlessly blends style and ethics. By utilizing the material, we can minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. This makes it an ideal choice for environmental preservation.
In this blog, we will explore the benefits of eco-friendly cowhide and explain why it has become the go-to option for conscious consumers seeking sustainable alternatives. We’ll also delve into the ethical considerations and manufacturing practices that help cowhide stand out as an ideal eco-friendly material. This aims to help individuals make eco-conscious choices without compromising on style or quality.
Why Do We Need Eco-Friendly Cowhide?
Before we uncover the benefits of eco-friendly cowhide, it’s imperative to note why they’re needed in the first place. To do that, we must understand the current climate crisis that’s taken the world by storm.
Our world has experienced extreme weather, record-breaking temperatures, and rapid ice melt in the last few decades. Scientists and researchers are constantly warning that human activity is leading to irreversible climate change. Unfortunately, this will lead to dire consequences as we cruise past several tipping points.
According to an article published in the New York Times, there’s a 98% chance that 2023 and the four years after that will be the hottest years. The Climate.gov website also reveals that April of 2023 was the globe’s fourth hottest April according to the past 174-year record. This will have obvious and severe consequences.
The rapid rise in global temperatures is leading to catastrophic events in a domino effect. These include everything from the devastating wildfires impacting North America and Australia to the disastrous heatwave in Antarctica. We are seeing an advanced permafrost melt in Antarctica, increased melting of ice sheets in Greenland, and higher deforestation rates. The sixth mass extinction of wildlife is also well underway, with more than 500 species on the brink of extinction.
Eco-friendly materials, such as cowhide, can help us significantly reduce our carbon footprint. By utilizing products made from the material, we can play our part in ensuring a more sustainable future. Below, we have listed some reasons why cowhide can help our world's current problems.
Cowhide Is a Biodegradable Material
Synthetic materials leave a substantial negative impact on the environment. They are manufactured with plastics and synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels. As a result, they don’t break down or degrade when they’re thrown in landfills and oceans. This leads to a staggering accumulation of waste that harms wildlife and the ecosystem. It also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
On the other hand, biodegradable materials like cowhide break down naturally and return to the ecosystem. That’s because the material is organic and derived from animal hides. This means that, unlike synthetic materials, biological agents such as bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms are evolved to decompose it. These work to decompose the complex organic compounds present in cowhide without leaving harmful remnants.
As a result, the material biodegrades immediately. This doesn’t just reduce the burden on landfills but also helps minimize pollution and the release of harmful gases.
However, that’s not where the benefits of eco-friendly cowhide ends. In fact, as cowhide biodegrades, it actually releases essential nutrients into the soil. This process remarkably enriches the soil's fertility and facilitates the growth of plants.
Proper and appropriate disposal of cowhide can help it return to the environment, which reduces the need for resource extraction and production of new materials. In this way, cowhide being biodegradable also contributes to the overall health and sustainability of our ecosystem.
How Cowhide Helps Reduce Greenhouse Gases
In the past, greenhouse gases played a vital role in ensuring our planet’s climate was suitable for the existence of numerous species. However, the current imbalance in greenhouse gas concentrations has become a serious threat it dramatically alters the conditions that support life on our planet.
Greenhouse gases work to trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. These include gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N20), and methane (CH4). While they're essential to keeping the planet habitable, human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation have substantially increased their concentrations. This has resulted in the Green House Effect, which contributes to global warming and climate change.
As an eco-friendly material, eco-friendly cowhidecan help reduce greenhouse gases in significant ways. Here are some listed below.
As a Byproduct of The Meat Industry
According to a study conducted by the Leather and Hide Council of America, an increase in meat consumption doesn’t correlate with cowhide or leather consumption. Unfortunately, this means that animal parts are being wasted in copious amounts. By utilizing cowhide, humans can make efficient use of a resource that will otherwise go to waste. Not only will this maximize the value obtained from a resource, but it will also significantly reduce the meat industry's negative impact on the environment.
Durability and Longevity of the Material
In the era of fast fashion, it's not uncommon to waste products that collect in landfills. This is especially due to the low quality of synthetic materials typically used to manufacture items. However, this solid waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
On the other hand, cowhide products are renowned for their durability and long life span. As a result, by choosing long-lasting cowhide products, individuals can reduce the need to frequently replace them. Moreover, proper maintenance and care ensures that these products last a long time and look good.
Ways Cowhide Curtails Plastic Waste
Another problem that massively impacts our ecosystem and the environment is plastic waste. Unfortunately, our planet is generating an overwhelming amount of these synthetic materials. In fact, according to the United Nations Environmental Program, we produce over 400 million tons of plastic each year. Out of this, only 9% is recycled, and the rest either ends up in the seas or is thrown into landfills. Since these materials are not biodegradable, they remain there for hundreds of years and turn into microplastics that enter the foodchain and lead to various health conditions and environmental issues.
This accumulation doesn't just overwhelm the ecosystem but also poses a threat to wildlife and marine life. That’s because animals either ingest or get entangled in plastic, which leads to injury, suffocation, and death. Moreover, synthetic materials also contaminate soil and water sources. In this way, their pervasive presence has far-reaching consequences for the ecosystem and biodiversity.
On the other hand, cowhide is a sustainable and biodegradable material that offers a remarkable alternative to synthetic materials. The material is durable, stylish, and long-lasting, which makes it ideal for bags, accessories, upholstery, etc. Individuals can decrease their dependency on plastic-based items by choosing cowhide products instead of synthetic ones. This way, the material can reduce the need for plastic generation.
Now that we have discussed the environmental benefits of eco-friendly cowhide, it's time to switch to the material.
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