Do you have experience in this industry or something, or did you just pull this out of your ass?
The only possible impetus for more synthetics is a new product to market towards first world vegans who feel bad.
I also haven't heard the answer to my question– how is this particular alternative to leather, based on rubber and pineapple leaves (and not plastic), particularly bad for the economy or the environment?
Its boiling the planet and directly killing animals through microplastics in the food and water.
In my opinion there is no generally available leather or leather alternative for shoes that are vegan.
Microplastics are bad, but that's indirectly killing animals - not directly. And vegan leather is a silly thing to nitpick over this issue, when there's probably roughly as much plastic in a pair of shoes as in a disposable water bottle you use once.
Because Americans are using intensive methods to extract oil from the ground.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=25372
And they are behind other western countries in how they produce energy.
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
> And vegan leather is a silly thing to nitpick over
It was a phrase that was used and I find it weird. I would not have mentioned it otherwise.
> there's probably roughly as much plastic in a pair of shoes as in a disposable water bottle you use once.
I avoid those too. Metal reusable, and had it for quite a few years now.
You seem very angry that someone doesn't like the phrase "vegan leather" for a product that is shit for the planet.
The murder of an animal is bad.
The death of all living things is also bad. Why do people feel the need to defend shitty plastics?