The leather industry needs its raw material. Without tanners- farmers, meat companies and society would face a serious and expensive challenge over what to do with hides and skins that the meat industry generates. This by product would otherwise go to waste.
The size of the world’s cattle, sheep and goat herds is greater than many consumers can imagine. Demand for meat around the world remains high and is growing in developing economies, as the meat and livestock sectors are important and lucrative parts of the global economy. An inevitable consequence is the high volume of hides and skins that abattoirs have to find a home for. Turning the meat into leather (a protective versatile, durable breathable and beautiful material), is, in the eyes of humanity, the best way of dealing with it. This adds value to the animal and creates jobs, as well as protecting the environment.
In any case, few alternatives exist. Landfill sites quickly fill up and are becoming increasingly expensive. The UK and Irish governments want to impose steep rises in landfill tax. In the UK for example, standard rates of dumped material increased by 25% in two years. The authorities have said specifically that they want to encourage new uses for animal by-products. There is no better example for this than using discarded hides and skins to make leather.
As an Irish ethical fashion brand, Tahlia would like to continue to make luxury products that also serve the purpose of protecting the environment.
Additionally, at Tahlia Leather, we ensure that our products are sourced from the UK and Ireland. We trace our leather from farm to fashion, making sure that every step of the process is ethical and of the highest quality.