Apparently, Nissan is offering leather seats as an option on their electric car, the Nissan Leaf. So the article is asking if vegans will buy a car that has vegan seats as an option. So that means that you can choose to have non-leather (presumably cloth) seats on your Leaf. You don’t have to have leather seats in your car.
I think the resounding answer would be yes. I would still buy an electric car, but I would opt for the cloth seats over the leather seats. Just because the car manufacturer is offering leather seats as an option, doesn’t mean that you need to disregard their vehicle as an option. They (and all other car manuf
This just feels like the media looking to drum up controversy where there really isn’t any. Am I wrong here? Do you think that the mere fact that Nissan is offering leather seats as an option on their electric car would stop you from purchasing said car?
This reminds me of an article I wrote a long time ago. The article was titled Vegangelicism — You’re Not Good Enough For My Vegan Club. Basically, vegans need to acknowledge that the world has a lot of cruelty in it and that you can’t change the world all at once. 8 million people aren’t going to stop eating meat all together just because you suggest that they not do that. But if you can bring some awareness to them about the cruelties, you might get them to ease back some. Let’s say that you convinced people not to eat meat one day each week, every week of the year. That would be a 14.3% decrease in the consumption of meat. Logically, that probably means that, eventually, 14.3% fewer cows, chickens, and pigs would need to be slaughtered.
So just because the car manufacturer is offering leather seats on a car that would otherwise help out the environment, the newspaper is trying to create controversy as to whether this would stop people who are vegans from buying the car. Maybe I’m wrong here. Maybe a lot of people would not buy this product. Maybe there are people who would not buy Silk soy milk because Silk’s parent company Dean Foods sells dairy products. (Personally, I think you should make your own soymilk, but I digress….) Maybe they wouldn’t buy non-leather shoes from a shoe manufacturer who also makes leather shoes. I know there are people who are vegan who will not eat in restaurants where they serve meat.
OK, so am I wrong here? Will vegans drive Nissan Leafs with leather seats? Leave a comment below indicating if Nissan’s decision to offer elather seats on their electric car would hinder you, or in any way adversely impact you, from buying such this car.
“This just feels like the media looking to drum up controversy where there really isn’t any. Am I wrong here?”
You are NOT wrong, that’s all it is really. Creating drama about ‘crazy vegans’- although it does sound like something PETA would protest.(hope they won’t!) But what it means to me personally? Well like you, I would buy an electric car with no-leather option, of course! And if I was going to buy any car, and my economy allowed it I would like to have an electric car. But the leather option just means that Nissan doesn’t care about the cows, and their green message isn’t as green as they claim. What’s new? I’m sure all vegans know this already, so many companies do this kind of thing… Still, we can make the best choice available in a non-vegan world, as usual.
I’m vegan and I drive a Ford Escape hybrid that I purchased about 3 years ago. The dealership was having a special and the ones they had in the showroom all had leather seats. I asked for cloth seats and they proceeded to explain how the “leather seats are better, plus that’s an option that we’re giving you for free today only!!” No thank you, I told them. I’ll go to abother dealership for a hybrid with cloth seats. They were very curious as to why I was willing to do that, and I explained about the cruelty in meat and all animal products (in barbecue country, Tennesssee), and it’s very obvious that I’m not from here. They then offered to drive to their “sister dealership” 120 miles away and pick up a hybrid with cloth seats for me. So they got to keep my business and I got the car I wanted that day itself, and I paid the lower rate; it’s not fair to have to pay more for cloth seats but I was prepared to do it! So yes, I absolutely would buy a Nissan Leaf with cloth seats, even if they offer leather as an option. If we don’t demand certain things, like vegan food in a non-veg restaurant, and if we choose to isolate ourselves and not go to regular places like restaurants, then we don’t have the right to complain about the lack of vegan options, and we’re doing a huge disservice to would-be vegans who feel that they want to be able to eat out with their friends and family but have a vegan meal. We can’t attract people to our way of living if it’s so closed off and cult-like.
Yes, I agree. This is certainly the kind of mania that PETA might do.
Thanks so much for the great comment. I completely agree with your statement: “…If we don’t demand certain things, like vegan food in a non-veg restaurant, and if we choose to isolate ourselves and not go to regular places like restaurants, then we don’t have the right to complain about the lack of vegan options, and we’re doing a huge disservice to would-be vegans who feel that they want to be able to eat out with their friends and family but have a vegan meal. We can’t attract people to our way of living if it’s so closed off and cult-like…”
Yes, I am currently saving for an electric car…and NO, I won’t be getting leather seats :) It would be so nice if manufacturers could use some sort of faux leather but I’ll take cloth over leather. Great article, thank you for bringing this subject up.
When I started my Vegan journey…I just focused on my dietary needs and didn’t really consider how this would impact the rest of my lifestyle. I can now say, 2 1/2 years later, I am a satisfied Vegan who doesn’t buy leather. I am more passionate about my choices, and have found cruelty and animal free beauty products. I am more educated and can, therefore, make better choices. As with anything in life, I needed to grow and evolve and I will always be doing that.
I am grateful for my awareness and for websites such as yours – thank you!
Thanks for your comments Julie. My wife and I have gone down a similar path. We started out as vegans for health reasons, but after peeling back the onion, you start to see the atrocities and it makes it hard to buy an animal products. That said, the use of animal products is so pervasive, it would be hard to find companies that aren’t willing to use animal products. If enough people vote with the wallets (in this case, if more and more people wanted cloth or faux instead of real leather), you would eventually see a change in what’s offered.
Thanks for the nice words about our website, too ;-)
Dine with @kathynajimy + @GloriaSteinem at @candle79 – the best vegan spot in town! Give to @equalitynow + feel good http://bit.ly/Ip8NDB
Hello fellow vegans and conscious consumers ! =)
Nevermind leather seats !,
ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH OR ENVIORNMENT OR ECONOMY
So, my quick comment, I wouldnt buy an electric car LOL
as for the leather, Id rather buy a used car with leather seats than an electric car without.
I could go into the reasons, but Im sure thee are a few other thinkers out there;
Ill leave it to them and discussion.
10 year vegan (except when my 100% Italian Nana make eggplant parmesan =)
PEACE
Hello fellow vegans and conscious consumers ! =)
Nevermind leather seats !,
ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH OR ENVIORNMENT OR ECONOMY
So, my quick comment, I wouldnt buy an electric car LOL
as for the leather, Id rather buy a used car with leather seats than an electric car without.
I could go into the reasons, but Im sure there are a few other thinkers out there;
Ill leave it to them and discussion.
10 year vegan (except when my 100% Italian Nana make eggplant parmesan =)
OH, and canola oil is NOT a food, its a nasty man made cash crop or simply poison.
Earth ‘balance’ is NASTY and the vice president admitted he knows its bad “but it sells”.
ORGANIC is CRUCIAL for ALL living things, even life without eyes =)
PEACE
Hi Adam
Please share your thoughts as to why electric cars are not good for health or environment or economy…
Mmmmm… Nana’s eggplant parm sounds yummy! I had some vegan eggplant parm at Whole Foods for lunch yesterday. OK, so it’s been a long time since I’ve had the real thing, but it was reminiscent of real eggplant parm… well at least that’s what my brain’s telling me…
The new Prius C comes in a luxury option featuring not leather, but genuine leatherette seats! Guess somebody in their R & D department understands what vegan-friendly means. Thank you, Toyota!
Find Eat to Evolve on Facebook – join the r/evolution!
http://onemansblog.com/2007/03/27/prius-outdoes-hummer-in-environmental-damage/
This would be what Adam was referring to, I think.
Per my local Nissan dealer, the Nissan Leaf comes with a leather covered steering wheel in all trim levels. No options, you just get a leather covered steering wheel, period.
Obviously this will be disappointing to vegans and goes beyond the question of leather v. nonleather seats. For the steering wheel, there is no vegan choice! Per the dealer, the limitation is connected to the need to cover the heated steering wheel with nonsynthetic material. I don’t understand why a heated steering wheel is important in any case.
The upshot is I’ll be waiting for a vegan option.
Same with me. The leather steering wheel is a deal breaker. We were on our way to buy a Leaf tonight and found out no solution to the leather steering wheel.
Nissan please offer a non-leather, non-heated steering wheel on the S model.
Exciting update. After not wanting to buy a LEAF due to the leather steering wheel, we started looking at PRIUS. We were very close to buying, but with the help of my brother-in-law, we contacted another Nissan dealer and asked about replacing the leather steering wheel. This is probably the ONLY dealership that would say “Yes, we can do that”. They even made the modification before we signed or paid for the car! We are SO happy with our leather-free LEAF!!!
It totally sucks that pretty much every new electric car available has a leather steering wheel these days: Nissan, BMW, Kia, SmartCar. It is extremely frustrating. I was very excited about buying an electric car. But as a vegan for 30 years I won’t buy an e-car with leather parts. I don’t understand the marketting intent. In Europe all of those vehicles mentioned are available without leather. Why are there wlayas so few options in America and what is supposed to be the appeal to someone buying an electric car of leather interiors? Is it some kind of balance? The need to chop down a few rain forest trees or put a few animals through some torture to pay for the splendidly good and modern idea of an electric car?
Martin
I’m a Vegan which = REAL leather is no good. If it’s real; It’s the flesh of another being. Somebody screamed to the top of their lungs for their flesh=that flesh belongs on that being. I do not participate in torture and cruelty to animals. I’m Trying to research if it’s synthetic. Synthetic is Good. It’s not about 8 billion people doing the right thing. It’s about you as an individual doing the right thing and not participating in the Animal Holocaust. That’s how the abolitionists stopped human slavery and abolition of the use/cruelty/torture to animals is how we will STOP the Animal Holocaust.
I can’t do everything but I can do something. I will NOT give a nickel or a dime to animal cruelty/torture/slavery anyone who does is participating and funding a monstrous act against other Sentient Beings. You did not choose to be a human and they did not choose to be an animal. What humans forget is that humans too are Animals. You do not put a value in another Sentient Beings Life–ONLY THEY KNOW THE VALUE Of THEIR OWN LIVES.
ENOUGH!
I’m a Vegan which = REAL leather is no good. If it’s real; It’s the flesh of another being. Somebody screamed to the top of their lungs for their flesh=that flesh belongs on that being. I do not participate in torture and cruelty to animals. I’m Trying to research if it’s synthetic. Synthetic is Good. It’s not about 8 billion people doing the right thing. It’s about you as an individual doing the right thing and not participating in the Animal Holocaust. That’s how the abolitionists stopped human slavery and abolition of the use/cruelty/torture to animals is how we will STOP the Animal Holocaust.
I can’t do everything but I can do something. I will NOT give a nickel or a dime to animal cruelty/torture/slavery anyone who does is participating and funding a monstrous act against other Sentient Beings. You did not choose to be a human and they did not choose to be an animal. What humans forget is that humans too are Animals. You do not put a value on another Sentient Beings Life–ONLY THEY KNOW THE VALUE Of THEIR OWN LIVES.
ENOUGH!
I just talk to a sales guy at my local Toyota…the dude did not even know what VEGAN means…the world has a LONG way to go…People need to keep pushing for Vegan Options or it will not happen as the cheapest answer with the most “prestige” for the consumer and “profit” for the manufacturer will still rein supreme. Sad…
Hi all, not sure if others will agree but my thinking on the pollution of electric vehicles is (re: that article about hybrids vs hummers) is that it’s taken over 100 years for the internal combustion engine (ICE) to become as ‘efficient’ as it is today. Electric vehicles produced today may be comparable to the pollution etc of an ICE but buying these vehicles is also showing a demand and investing in development of more efficient production of theae vehicles, so for the long game it’s going to be much better for the environment. And as most of us vegans are thinking of the long game of sustainability I think your conscience can be clear. So there are advantages to buying first hand but I’ve always bought 2nd hand (can’t afford new).
With regards to both production pollution and the leather, if you buy 2nd hand then you create no additional demand for the initial production damage (that footprint belings to the 1st buyer), including for the leather, so your conscience can be clear.
So whether you buy new or used, your conscience can be clear as you’re playing a part in the overall goal of decreasing pollution and waste, even though more militant vegans might not think so.
Even with an ICE, I calculated that buying second hand means you can drive around for a long time before producing the same pollution as any new car. For this reason I bought an old Porsche boxster with the intention of converting this to electric. It’s light and has the engine space to install all the electric motor and associated parts (several have been converted to EV on youtube, I was hoping to get my production demand down to 0 by getting an EV motor together from parta of written-off Leafs). Sadly I don’t have the time or indeed any experience in taking cars apart or putting EV motora together so I have been waiting for the cost of conversion to drop, and had hoped it would have done so more sharply than it has so I’m still driving it around, with the ICE 2 years later but hopefully soon I’ll be able to get it done, but even so I calculated that I could drive it for over 10 years before producing the same pollution as buying a new car of any kind. For those interested in doing something similar it’s currently £12-15k to convert (i.e. About twice as much as buying a second hand leaf) so currently I can’t afford it (the car was only £4k), I’m thinking of tearing the engine out and selling it then starting it as a project, but that would mean getting another car to get to work in the meantime.
Sorry, went a bit off-topic there, in reviews I’ve seen for the Leaf some people had referred to the leather as ‘Faux’ so I’m not sure if they were misled or if some dealers offer this? I don’t buy anything with new leather (demand) but have had cars with leather seats, the way I see it, as terrible as the production costs were to the animal, it doesn’t reduce that to theiw the leather seats out and have non-leather ones produced, it just means further waste. Like I said, I’m sure many won’t agree but I feel that being conscientious isn’t always about what you own if use, but whether you played a part in what created the denand. It’s like if someone killed a chicken and told me another would be killed if I didn’t eat it, I’d eat it, it wouldn’t make a difference to that chicken but would make a hell of a difference to the other one, it’s the long-game again.
I just noticed Martin’s comment, must have missed that before. I could have sworn that I’d seen USA reviews referring to the seats as faux leather. When I’ve looked at dealers websitea over here (UK) it always says “leather” but I’d assumed that there would be a faux option. Like I said above, I won’t be buying new anyway, but that’d be a deal-breaker if I was going to.
Are people going to eat the seats?