Leather is a byproduct of the beef industry.

At no point will any fewer cattle be 'processed' for meat because of this decision.

What does change is the utility ratio of the beasts. Well use less of each beast making the tragedy of their death more meaningless.

Leather is far more environmentally friendly than plastics, with a small caveat for the tanning process' chemicals, and emissions from the beasts themselves (though that's attributable to beef production.)

Leather doesn't degrade into micro plastics.

So unless Apple is also reducing its beef consumption* by the equivalent amount it's pointless.

* yes, it'll be non-zero.

Just remember it's always about the profits.

Just like how they stopped selling chargers for the sake of reducing e-waste. Even though they can save on shipping weights and charge extra for 1st party chargers.

Now is it worse for the environment to produce extra chargers and cables? Or the secondary purchases, shipping, and manufacturing? I can't tell you the actual impact.

Oh and remember the absolute trash 1A/5V charging bricks they included for the longest time ever? They hardly even pushed out 18w bricks before they nixed the entire included charger crap.

Good. But fuck that faux pleather stuff too though, it doesn't last long and is just microplastics waiting to end up in the environment. Get proper stainless steel one or even a good quality NATO strap.

LOL, animals have no rights. OK, maybe the right to be tasty.

Hermés bands will still be actual leather, right? That’s a whole brand thing with them.

Cool.

But like a broken clock that is right twice a day, Apple doing the right thing is only because there is money in it.