Leather is often considered a natural product because it is made from animal skin. However, processing rawhide 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 ways.
The first step in leather production is tanning, which involves preserving the rawhide to protect it from decay. Traditional tanning often uses chemicals such as chromium salts, which can be harmful to the environment and health. Even more modern tanning methods that are considered more environmentally friendly still use chemicals to treat and stabilize the skin.
In addition, leather is often treated with various substances to change its color or make it water-repellent. These additives are usually chemically produced and help convert the natural material into an engineered product.
Another point that calls into question the naturalness of leather is the animal husbandry and slaughter necessary to obtain the rawhide. 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, leather can no longer be considered a purely natural product due to the complex manufacturing process, the use of chemicals and additives, as well as animal husbandry and slaughter. It undergoes a series of human interventions that make it an engineered material in many ways.
