A new bag bears the label “plant-based leather.” That may seem sufficient to conclude that it is better for the environment than a genuine leather bag. But before making a choice, we need to know what each bag is made of and how long each one will last.

1. Leather alternatives: a name for different materials

  • Genuine leather: It comes from animal hides, which are treated through a process called “tanning” so that they do not deteriorate and can be used. When assessing its environmental impact, researchers consider how the animal was raised and how its hide was processed.
  • Leather alternative: A term for any material that resembles genuine leather without being made from animal hide. Types include:
    • Plastic alternatives.
    • Plant-based alternatives: Made, for example, from pineapple-leaf fibers.

Plant fibers are often coated with a layer of plastic to hold them together and withstand friction. Therefore, the phrase “contains no animal leather” does not necessarily mean “contains no plastic.”

2. What does the study tell us?

Researchers asked: Which materials used in footwear have the lowest impact during production? In a study published in 2026, they compared eight materials, including bovine leather and plastic and plant-based alternatives.

  • Bovine leather: The highest environmental impact.
  • Plant-based alternatives: Ranked in the middle.
  • Plastic alternatives: The lowest impact among the production stages measured by the study.

This finding shows that the label “plant-based” does not automatically make a material better for the environment. However, it does not fully determine which products are better, because the study did not measure how long the product is used or what happens to it after disposal. Plastic may also create a waste problem after use, even if it recorded a lower impact during production.

3. The bag’s lifespan is part of the comparison

This raises a fundamental question: How many times will we need to buy the same product?

  • If the alternative wears out quickly and needs to be replaced, its expected environmental benefit may be reduced.
  • If the product can be repaired and used for longer, the need to produce a new replacement decreases.

The European Environment Agency explains that extending the lifespan of fashion products, reusing them, and repairing them helps reduce demand for raw materials and pollution.

4. What does this mean in Saudi Arabia?

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture links reducing waste, reuse, and resource conservation to the concept of the “circular economy”—that is, keeping products and materials in use rather than disposing of them quickly.

  • Economically: A durable product may cost more upfront, but it can save consumers the cost of repeatedly buying replacements.
  • Behaviorally: Buyers’ interest in a product’s lifespan and repairability may encourage local brands to improve quality and clarify their materials, while creating opportunities for repair and resale services.

When comparing two products, it is not enough to ask: Is this material plant-based? We should also ask: What is it made of? How long will the product last? And can it be repaired or reused afterward?

The product that is best for the environment is not always the one with the most sustainable-sounding name, but the one with a demonstrated impact that remains usable for longer.