Genuine sheepskin is generally considered a reasonably ethical and sustainable material choice, because it's a byproduct of the meat and wool industry rather than an animal farmed solely for its pelt, and because it's a natural, biodegradable material that tends to last far longer than synthetic faux-fur alternatives. It isn't a perfect or simple answer, and it's worth understanding the reasoning rather than taking that at face value - so here's the honest version, not the marketing one.
We get asked this more than almost any other question, and we think shoppers deserve a straight answer rather than a defensive one. If you're also weighing up cost against longevity, see our piece on whether sheepskin is worth the investment compared to synthetic alternatives.
Where does sheepskin actually come from?
Sheepskin is the hide of a sheep, tanned with the wool left on. Sheep are farmed primarily for meat and wool, both long-established parts of the UK's agricultural economy, and the pelt is a secondary product of that process rather than the reason the animal was raised. In other words, no sheep is farmed purely so its skin can be turned into a rug or a coat - the skin is a byproduct that would otherwise go to waste if it wasn't tanned and used. Using it is generally viewed as a more responsible use of the whole animal, rather than an additional demand placed on farming.
This is different from some other fur or skin industries, where animals are bred specifically for their pelts. It's a distinction worth knowing, because it's the basis of most serious arguments in favour of sheepskin as a material.
Is sheepskin a natural material?
Yes. Sheepskin is entirely natural - wool and leather, with no synthetic fibres involved. That matters for two reasons. First, it's biodegradable: at the end of a genuine sheepskin product's very long life, it breaks down naturally, unlike synthetic acrylic "faux fur," which is typically made from petroleum-based plastic fibres that persist in landfill for a very long time and shed microplastics into water systems when washed. Second, natural wool fibres are renewable and require no fossil fuel input to produce, unlike synthetic alternatives.
None of this means sheepskin has zero environmental footprint - tanning is a genuine industrial process, and it's worth buying from producers who tan responsibly. But as a raw material, natural and biodegradable is a real point in sheepskin's favour compared with synthetic equivalents.
How does sheepskin compare with faux fur on sustainability?
Faux fur is often assumed to be the automatically "kinder" choice, but it comes with its own environmental cost that doesn't get discussed as often:
- Material origin: Faux fur is typically made from acrylic or polyester - plastic derived from petroleum. Sheepskin is a natural byproduct of an existing food industry.
- End of life: Genuine sheepskin biodegrades. Synthetic faux fur does not break down and can persist in landfill for decades.
- Microplastic shedding: Synthetic fleece and faux fur shed microplastic fibres during washing and wear, which end up in waterways. Wool doesn't have this issue.
- Lifespan: This is the point that gets least attention, and it might matter most.
Why longevity is a sustainability argument, not just a value one
The most overlooked part of the sustainability question is simply how long an item lasts. A genuine sheepskin product, cared for properly, commonly lasts 10 to 20 years or more - see our Sheepskin Care Guide for how to get that lifespan. A cheap synthetic "shearling-style" equivalent, with a bonded lining rather than a single natural hide, typically flattens, peels or wears through within one to three seasons.
That difference compounds. One well-made sheepskin coat or pair of slippers that lasts fifteen years replaces what might otherwise be five or six synthetic replacements bought and discarded over the same period. Buying fewer things, less often, because they're built to last, is one of the more genuinely sustainable habits a shopper can adopt - regardless of the specific material.
Is there anything to be cautious about?
We'd rather be straightforward here than oversell it. Sourcing matters: not every producer tans or sources skins responsibly, and the environmental impact of tanning depends on the process used. If ethical sourcing matters to you, it's worth asking any retailer directly where their skins come from and how they're tanned. We only use skins that are a byproduct of the UK food industry, tanned in the UK, and made by hand in our Bungay workshop - a supply chain we can actually stand behind because we've been doing it since 1846. Read more about our workshop and story on our About page.
The honest summary
Sheepskin isn't a flawless material, and no material with an industrial process behind it is. But compared with the usual alternative - synthetic faux fur - it has a stronger sustainability case on three fronts: it uses an existing byproduct rather than a purpose-farmed animal, it's a natural and biodegradable material rather than plastic, and it lasts long enough to meaningfully reduce how often you need to replace it. That's a reasonable, evidence-based case, not a marketing one.
FAQs
Are sheep farmed specifically for sheepskin?
No, not typically. Sheep are farmed primarily for meat and wool. The pelt used to make sheepskin products is a byproduct of that existing farming and food industry, not the primary reason the animal is raised.
Is faux fur more ethical than real sheepskin?
It depends what you're weighing. Faux fur avoids animal-derived material entirely, which matters to some shoppers on principle. But it's typically made from petroleum-based plastic, doesn't biodegrade, sheds microplastics when washed, and tends to wear out much faster than genuine sheepskin - so it isn't automatically the more sustainable choice.
Does genuine sheepskin biodegrade?
Yes. As a natural material made of wool and leather, genuine sheepskin breaks down naturally at the end of its life, unlike synthetic faux fur, which is largely plastic and persists in landfill.
Why does sheepskin's lifespan matter for sustainability?
A well-made sheepskin item can last 10 to 20 years or more with basic care, whereas cheaper synthetic equivalents often need replacing every one to three seasons. Buying one long-lasting item instead of several short-lived replacements reduces overall waste and resource use.
Where does Nursey Sheepskin source its skins from?
We only use skins that are a byproduct of the UK food industry, tanned in the UK and made by hand in our Suffolk workshop - a supply chain we've maintained since 1846. Browse our full range of handmade sheepskin best-sellers to see it in action.