Artificial leather facts for kids

Artificial leather is often used for seats in a train.

Artificial leather is a special material that looks and feels like real leather, but it's not made from animal skins. People use it when real leather is too expensive, not suitable, or for ethical reasons. It's much cheaper to make than real leather.

Many types of artificial leather are also good at keeping water out. This makes them useful for things like upholstery (covering furniture) and fashion items like bags and shoes.

What is Artificial Leather Made From?

Steps to make synthetic PU leather: 1 = cotton fabric, 2 = adding a plastic layer, 3 + 4 = finishing the material.

Artificial leather usually has two main parts. First, there's a type of textile or fabric, like cotton. Second, there's a layer of plastic on top. Common plastics used include PVC.

Real leather, on the other hand, is made from the skin of animals.

Why Artificial Leather Can Cause Problems

At first, artificial leather might seem better for the environment. This is because no animals need to be harmed to make it. However, there's another side to the story.

When clothes or items made from artificial leather are thrown away, they can cause problems. Many plastics take a very long time to break down naturally. This means the plastic parts can end up in places like the ocean. There, animals such as birds and fish might accidentally eat them.

Also, some of the chemicals used to make artificial leather can be toxic. This can lead to pollution in our environment.

See also

In Spanish: Cuero sintético para niños

Images for kids

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  An artificial leather bag strap, made from plastic

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  1968 Mercedes Benz 280SE (W108) Seats and door trim in blue MB-Tex