What is Bonded Leather?

It may sound and look and feel classy and sassy but you will never guess what bonded leather is made out of. Of course, having said that it is bonded leather would give away the main material used in this unique material but read on to find out its dark secret. If you want to tell the difference of bonded leather and genuine leather, the saying “Do not judge a book by its cover” will apply fairly well. Moreover, bonded leather is safer to use than many other covering materials you know.

To start off, bonded leather which is also known as reconstituted leather is a covering material made out of scraps or left over cuts of genuine leather. It is mixed with other material in order to reduce the cost. Bonded leather is basically a cheaper version of genuine leather. It is mostly used in books, art books, bags, diaries, accessories for desks, belts, chairs, sofas, and other furniture. There are different types of bonded leather, but, the type used most commonly is polyurethane or vinyl. This is the one used today in furniture which is backed with fabric, latex, and leather fibers. Another type of bonded leather is the paper-backed bonded leather. This type is used mostly in book covers. The amount of genuine leather that bonded leathers contain differs from each manufacturer and also on the quality and appearance of the material the manufacturer wants to present. There are products which are 100 percent genuine leather while others, like upholstery, are only about 17 percent.

Telling the difference between bonded leather and the genuine leather will require you to look at many factors. You cannot possibly tell the difference of bonded leathers and genuine leathers simple by looking at it or touching it. Yes, very skilled individuals will know the difference quite easily by just sniffing, seeing, or feeling things. But if you are not an expert, you might find it hard. You see, the quality and the look of reconstituted leathers are very similar to genuine leathers. If the craftsmanship is very good, the texture of the bonded leather would look very similar to that of the genuine leather. Moreover, both leathers can be same in things like function, smell, and appearance. However, you can tell which is which by knowing the cost. Bonded leathers are made from scraps of genuine leathers therefore they are a lot cheaper. For example, in 2009, the average selling price of sofas made with bonded leather is at $699 while sofas made out of real genuine leather comes at a hefty price of $1,199.

Bonded leather does not go under any chemical tanning. This is what makes this leather very safe for the environment. Because of the aforementioned fact, bonded leathers contain only very low levels of formaldehyde which is a substance notorious for being unsafe for the environment. If you are looking for a green furniture or material, bonded leather might just do the cut for you.