Leather is often considered a natural product because it is made from animal hide. However, the processing of raw hide into leather is a complex chemical process that significantly alters the material, making it a product that can no longer be described as "natural" in many respects.
The first step in leather production is tanning, which preserves the raw hide to protect it from deterioration. Traditional tanning often uses chemicals such as chromium salts, which can be harmful to the environment and human health. Even more modern tanning methods, considered more environmentally friendly, still use chemicals to treat and stabilize the hide.
Furthermore, leather is often treated with various substances to change its color or make it water-repellent. These additives are usually chemically produced and contribute to the transformation of the natural material into a technically processed product.
Another point that calls into question the naturalness of leather is the animal husbandry and slaughter necessary to obtain the raw hide. Industrial animal production often involves the use of antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals that enter the animal's body and can therefore also be detected in the leather.
In summary, due to its complex manufacturing process, the use of chemicals and additives, as well as animal husbandry and slaughter, leather can no longer be considered a purely natural product. It undergoes a series of human interventions that, in many respects, make it a technically processed material.