Concerns about animal welfare, climate change and deforestation have pushed shoppers and brands towards options that seem more responsible.As a result, "vegan leather" is often seen as the better choice — even though how long it lasts, and where it ends up, is rarely questioned.For decades, these materials were known as "pleather" or vinyl As product stewardship schemes expand, durability, recyclability and what happens to a product at the end of its life will matter as much as animal welfare.None of this means animal leather comes without environmental or chemical costs