Apple is named PETA’s Company of the Year for the decision to drop leather from all its products

Apple is named PETA’s Company of the Year for the decision to drop leather from all its products،

When Apple revealed its latest iPhone 15 and Watch Series 9 series, there was a noticeable change in the choice of accessories. The tech giant has said goodbye to leather in favor of woven materials, covering Apple Watch bands, AirTag sleeves, MagSafe wallets and iPhone cases.

Apple is touting the new recycled material for having significantly lower emissions than the carbon-intensive leather it replaces. This environmentally friendly approach has not gone unnoticed by PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals).

According to Bloomberg Marc GurmanApple's decision to eliminate leather from its product line has earned it accolades in the form of PETA's 2023 Company of the Year award. PETA commends Apple for “responding to consumer demands and setting an example for other major companies by ditching leather as part of its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030..”

Image credit – PETA

PETA highlights that leather from cowhide, according to the Higg Material Sustainability Index, contributes much more to water pollution, water depletion and greenhouse gas emissions than synthetic or vegetable vegan leather. Cattle farming, a major driver of deforestation, for example in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, further highlights the environmental consequences of leather production.

Although Apple's move away from leather aligns with its broader green initiative, the transition hasn't been seamless. Apple's alternative, called FineWoven, wasn't exactly a success. Users find FineWoven cases peculiar to the touch, prone to scratches, and quick to accumulate dirt. Some third-party retailers even opted out, and Apple advised its staff to regularly swap display units to maintain a neat appearance.

FineWoven cases need a serious upgrade to align with customer expectations. Despite the obvious downsides, Apple can probably take solace in the likely higher profit margins of the FineWoven cases, given the unchanged $59 price tag compared to their leather predecessors.