The term "ecopelle" can be found written everywhere: from plastic accessories to genuine leather ones.

That alone shows how much confusion there is around this topic.

Some sellers use it in a misleading way, while consumers buy a product that is often not what they think.

If you are reading this article, you probably have doubts too about what this material is.

In this post you will discover what "ecopelle" is and everything there is to know so you are not misled.

You will learn the differences from genuine leather, how to clean it and much more.

Let us begin!

What "ecopelle" is and what it means

The definition of ecopelle is given in the Italian standard UNI 11427 - ecopelle, issued in 2015.

Ecopelle is genuine leather.

Yes, exactly!

It is not plastic as many write.

The Italian legislator has also reinforced this term with a decree that bans terms which have nothing to do with genuine leather, such as vegan leather, pineapple leather, imitation leather and so on.

Is that all? Absolutely not.

To be called ecopelle, the leather must meet various criteria, including:

- compliance with safety standards for workers;

- compliance with the limits on chemical substances present during the tanning process;

- compliance with specific environmental values (waste materials, water consumption, etc.).

This means that ecopelle covers all leather processed in a sustainable way with a low environmental impact.

Which tanning method guarantees a low-impact process?

Vegetable tanning!

This ancient tanning method is carried out with natural substances such as the tannins found in plant extracts like mimosa, oak, chestnut or quebracho.

Ecopelle and leather: what are the differences?

Genuine leather can only be called such if it comes from animal hides that have been tanned.

The difference between ecopelle and leather is essentially about meeting the environmental parameters set by the standard mentioned earlier.

Tanning, the process that makes leather resistant to decay, carries significant weight in defining an eco-friendly process.

There are tanning methods, such as aluminum or chrome tanning, that can be highly polluting for the environment and dangerous for the workers.

In short: ecopelle is always genuine leather, but genuine leather is not always ecopelle!

How to clean ecopelle

Unlike a plastic accessory that needs no particular maintenance, ecopelle must be nourished and cared for.

First of all, there are some things to absolutely avoid, such as:

- using chemical and aggressive products that can ruin the leather;

- putting the bag or accessory in the washing machine.

Cleaning an ecopelle accessory is a procedure that must be done carefully. On that note, I have written a dedicated article on cleaning a leather bag.

How long does ecopelle last

The lifespan of ecopelle is practically endless!

To give you an idea, a few years ago a leather shoe belonging to a civilization 2,000 years old was found in the archaeological area of Saalburg.

Two thousand years!

You read that right.

I think nothing more is needed to explain how durable and sustainable genuine leather is.

Is ecopelle waterproof?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question.

Let me explain...

Leather is not waterproof by nature.

In fact, one way to tell genuine leather from plastic is to do a test with a drop of water: if it is absorbed, it is genuine leather; otherwise it is plastic.

But be careful!

If leather is finished with specific waxes and creams, it can become water-resistant.

Which ecopelle to choose?

Without a doubt, the ecopelle par excellence is vegetable-tanned leather!

Besides the environmental virtues already mentioned, it also has an unmistakable charm.

Every leather tanned with this method will be different from the next, because the top layer of the leather (called the grain side) is left intact, with its grain and natural marks.

What is more, over time vegetable-tanned leather takes on that typical lived-in look that makes it unique compared to other leathers!

How much does ecopelle cost?

Vegetable-tanned bovine leather is reasonably more expensive than leather tanned with other methods.

The reasons are various, such as the processing times, which are long and slow.

We have reached the end of this article, in which we have looked at every aspect of ecopelle.

I am sure you now have all the tools to buy consciously, whether or not an item is made of ecopelle.

If you are looking for a genuine handmade leather bag, discover our women’s leather bags and men’s leather bags, made by hand.

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