Person the other week noticed I was wearing vegan Doc Martens (the tags are white for vegan shoes). I know they're polyurethane, which isn't great, but I'd prefer that over animal skin on my feet. This person was apparently also a vegan, but says they prefer wearing leather (what) because in their words "Animal leather is biodegradable, lasts longer, and is a by-product of the already existing meat industry." making the point that animal leather has less of an environmental impact.
I didn't know how to respond at all. I know veganism isn't simply consumption habits but it did make me feel weird. I still don't think anyone should wear leather.
Does anyone have advice? I'm just feeling weird and self-conscious now
I don't know, I was just caught in a weird feeling where my veganism was getting accused of environmental destruction because of my shoes. Yeah it's probably the case that synthetic leather doesn't last as long as animal leather, but animal leather shouldn't be made. Polyurethane probably also shouldn't be made.
But I'm not going to wear a dead animals skin. I don't think a compromise needs to exist between environmental protection and animal liberation. We can do both.