Real and Faux Leather
Recycled Leather: What the Label Means
Recycled leather is leather scrap shredded into fiber and pressed with a binder. See leather-fiber percentages, how it compares with bonded leather, and what labels say.
Recycled leather is leather scrap shredded into fiber and pressed into sheet with a binder such as natural rubber, resin or polyurethane. The sources we read describe the same construction that other sellers call bonded leather, so "recycled" and "bonded" are often two names for one kind of material. What matters is the percentage of leather fiber, and labels often don't give it.
This answer is part of our hub on real vs faux leather.
How recycled leather is made
Makers crush leather or leather scraps into fiber, mix it with natural rubber, resin and other additives, then press, heat, dry, slice, emboss and surface-treat the sheet. One bag brand says its leather layer is made entirely of reclaimed fibers from landfill-bound genuine leather scraps, on a recycled polyester backing with a water-based polyurethane coating.
How much of it is leather?
It varies widely, and the figure is the main thing to look for.
The brand figures are the sellers' own statements, not test results.
| Source | Stated leather fiber content |
|---|---|
| Bonded leather, general description | 10–90% |
| One furniture maker's bonded upholstery (2007 trade report) | 10–17% |
| A bag brand's "premium recycled leather" | Over 65%, bonded with natural rubber |
| Another bag brand's recycled leather | 70% of the total material |
| European bonded leather standard EN 15987:2011 | At least 50% dry leather by weight to use the term "bonded leather" |
What the label has to say
We found no standard that defines "recycled leather" itself. The rules we did find cover bonded leather:
- US: bonded or reconstituted leather should not be represented as leather. If those terms are used, the percentage of leather fibers and non-leather substances should be disclosed.
- Europe: EN 15987:2011 sets the 50% dry-leather minimum for the term "bonded leather".
- Italy: one tannery group says the legal term is "bonded regenerate of leather fibers".
So a tag reading only "recycled leather" with no percentage tells you little. Ask for the share of leather fiber and what the rest is.
Recycled leather vs bonded leather vs real leather
The sources do not draw a line between recycled and bonded leather, so we don't treat them as different products. Real leather is tanned hide with its fiber structure intact; bonded material is rebuilt from fiber. For a full comparison, see bonded leather vs real leather.
A maker of the material says its strength is lower than leather of the same thickness and lower than PU, so it isn't suited to high-force goods such as shoe uppers. A separate source says low-grade bonded leather may flake within a few years and is hard to repair.
Is recycled leather real leather?
It contains real leather, but it isn't hide. In the US it shouldn't be presented as plain leather. It isn't faux leather in the strict sense either, since faux leather has no leather fiber at all. See what artificial leather is.
Another loosely used label is covered in what eco leather means.
FAQ
Is recycled leather still real leather?
Partly. It is made from real leather fiber, but it is rebuilt with a binder rather than being a whole hide.
Is recycled leather durable?
It depends on the recipe. One maker says it is weaker than same-thickness leather, and low-grade bonded material may flake within a few years.
What should the tag say?
The percentage of leather fiber and the other materials.
Where to read more
A store guide lists bonded or reconstituted leather as a composite and says to ask the seller for the proportion when a listing gives none. See Leather Collection's guide to telling real leather from fake.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.