PVC leather is a kind of imitation leather made of plastic. In essence, polyvinyl chloride (PVC plastic) is applied to fabric and then pressed out to produce leather-like texture. Its biggest feature is that it is cheap and durable. It is widely used in daily necessities such as sofas, bags, and car seats.
PVC leather is very safe to use at room temperature under the premise of meeting national standards. Its material is stable and will not release harmful substances. Environmentally friendly PVC leather does not contain controversial plasticizers such as heavy metals and phthalates, and has passed non-toxic certification (as marked by some artificial leather manufacturers). There is no need to worry about toxicity when you come into contact with furniture made of PVC leather materials on a daily basis. Short-term skin contact is harmless.
The following situations may be toxic:
1. Hidden dangers of inferior products PVC leather made of recycled materials or excessive addition of phthalate plasticizers may interfere with endocrine system in long-term contact, especially for children and pregnant women.
2. Impact of high temperature environment PVC leather may decompose hydrogen chloride gas when exposed to high temperature (such as exposure to the sun, close to heat sources), irritating the respiratory tract and eyes.
When burning, it will release highly toxic substances such as dioxins, so avoid contact with open flames.
‌3. Special additive residues‌
Some inferior PVC leathers contain unpolymerized vinyl chloride monomer (carcinogen), which may be harmful to health if inhaled or contacted for a long time.
When choosing PVC leather, for safety reasons, we recommend choosing products marked with “environmentally friendly certification”. Be careful of PVC leather that is too cheap.