Design Life-Cycle

 Renee De Jesus

Bella Rozzi, Nikko Brody

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

The Raw Materials of Python Skin Hand Bags

The capturing and illegal trade of pythons is an ongoing practice that fulfills consumer standards in the fashion industry. Pythons are caught for their eye-catching skin and used as leather for luxury products. This procedure begins with capturing snakes in the wild or acquiring them from breeding farms. The snakes are first captured from Southeast Asia and transported to major companies in different countries. Afterward, python skins are processed in factories that use toxic chemicals for tanning. While this is an extensive process, the python trade is an exercise that fuels the fashion realm. As this cruel procedure questions the ethics of this practice, the continuation of this product risks the endangerment of this species. At the same time, python skin bags take years to decompose completely in landfills. 

To begin with, python skin bags are made from two main raw materials, pythons and cotton. Cotton is derived from cotton plantations located in warm climates including the US, and they are also found growing in the wild. While there is an abundant amount of cotton that is grown for various uses including clothing and accessories, pythons are sparse. Pythons are sometimes bred through breeding farms, but pythons are usually caught in countries in Southeast Asia. The constant capturing and smuggling of pythons also increases the species’ endangerment. Thousands of pythons get skinned per year, which leads many to live short lifespans. According to an article by the IOP Conference, reptiles were traded the most during the 2000s as 50% of these exports were pythons from Indonesia (Wahab et al. 2). The high demand for pythons have caused this trade to continue since pythons are also used for other products like medicine and clothing. The endangerment process has sped up for this species due to certain aspects like the snake’s skin and size that determine if a snake reaches the quality standard for the manufacturing process. For instance, female pythons are more likely to get caught due to their larger size. This significantly lowers the reproduction rate because male pythons are much smaller than female pythons. Further, larger snakes attract manufacturers since they have more skin to work with. The intricate patterns of python skins attract customers to buy handbags the most, so this process is selective. Those with unique geometric scales or appealing patterns are more likely to get captured. These patterns would create the distinction between other bags later in their life cycle, which supports their reputation as luxury leather. 

After the acquisition of these snakes, pythons are transported from the wild to slaughterhouses. Pythons are usually transported by trucks due to mass shipping and are sometimes shipped to overseas countries. Another way of transport is through trade. According to TRAFFIC, a wildlife trades monitoring network, found that local breeding farms are involved in the illegal export of snakes to China (Research Gate 3). Although breeding farms are more sustainable for the controlled growth of pythons, the possible endangerment of pythons has led to restrictions regarding the python trade. This restriction has also caused people to catch pythons secretively. Smuggling within individuals occurs under these conditions, although they tend to be inhumane. This practice often leads pythons to an “unrecognizable state” due to how brutal this process is. When pythons arrive at slaughterhouses, pythons are examined and skinned for manufacturing. Unfortunately, the slaughter methods are cruel and painful for the pythons. They are often drowned or suffocated to get killed. Next, pythons undergo a process called “chromium tanning”, in which carcinogenic chromium is used to tan python skins (Four Paws 3). This chemical is highly toxic for humans to handle, but this material is used to create leather. These chemicals can also cause cancer and other diseases if not handled properly. Tanning industries located in less developed parts of Southeast Asia are at risk of polluted waterways if the excess chemicals are not disposed of properly. Cotton or other breathable fabrics are also used to create the final product of a handbag. Finally, dye is often used to create bags with unnatural python leather colors. The extensive process of manufacturing to reach consumer standards is a dangerous process for both humans and snakes. However, this repetitive and lengthy process ensures high-quality python skin bags reach the consumer market.

The materials used in the distribution and transportation stage include cotton, cardboard, and paper. After handbags are manufactured, popular luxury brands including Louis Vuitton and Gucci use multiple layers of packaging to ensure the cleanliness of their products after a customer purchases from their stores. Specifically, Louis Vuitton rebranded their packaging to incorporate convenience and sustainability using raw materials (LVMH par. 3). The first packaging layer is a cotton bag that strings can usually seal. Products are placed in a cotton bag to reduce the risk of water damage and excessive dirt on the products. Afterward, they are placed in a cardboard box with a magnetic seal to enclose the product inside. These cardboard boxes are often covered in a matte finish or a gloss with the brand’s name printed on top of it. Lastly, paper bags are used for carrying the products out of the store after purchase. The use of raw materials is evident in this stage of the life cycle compared to the others, but because this is the stage that reaches the companies’ hands, there is a more sustainable approach to their products. According to Amatulli et al., “durability is a core business value: luxury is the business of lasting worth” (36). The use of raw materials in this stage ensures sustainability and professionalism that attracts customers to luxury stores. Especially with the fragility of python skin leather, luxury companies are compelled to provide extensive packaging to satisfy their customers. Packaging like Louis Vuitton’s approach creates a clean look that customers look for in luxury brands, but continues the practice of capturing pythons to fuel the industry.

The reuse, maintenance, and recycling stages of this product do not include new raw materials, except for the use of cotton cloth and some water to get rid of excess dirt from time to time (Adil 2022). After the processing stage, python skin can easily get damaged through an excessive amount of sunlight exposure and water damage. Also, the use of other cleaning products and chemicals can damage the pattern of the snakeskin as well. Exotic handbags are often sold at higher prices, so consumers feel compelled to take care of their products properly. After a consumer’s use of this product, handbags cannot be recycled. With this, bags end up in landfills or can be found back on the shelves in second-hand reuse stores. This is due to pythons’ heavy-duty skin since they were “adapted through evolution for survival” (Butkute 2018). Python skin consists of a fiber called keratin, which is the reason why their skin is too difficult to break down. For a chance to be recycled, python skin bags can be found at thrift stores to be used once again, but cannot be upcycled to become a different product. Python skin bags that end up in landfills take longer to decompose. According to Can I Compost It?, composting materials decompose within a few weeks to a couple of months, while snakeskin can take up to two years to fully decompose (par. 2). With the lengthier time for python skin to decompose, it is not advised to throw away python skin bags into landfills. This also questions the sustainability of this product due to its non-biodegradability. 

The continuation of capturing pythons for the fashion industry questions the ethics of this practice, endangers the python species, and also questions the sustainability of this product in general. Movements like the “Green Strategy” have been trying to be implemented more as sustainable fashion. In fact, the fashion industry has become the “second largest source of pollution (Ostermann et al. 2021, as cited in Wang 2023). The implementation of strategies like this ensures ethical approaches within the fashion industry while also manufacturing fashion materials that are conscious of the environment. The constant killing of pythons will eventually lead to the extinction of the species, leading luxury brands to decrease in sales of this exotic leather material. However, it is not guaranteed that all companies are willing to implement strategies like these in their brand. The use of python skin as luxury leather has become a popular market over the years of trading and manufacturing this material, which leads companies to not want to stray away from their original practices. Some companies have switched to faux python leather and vegan practices due to ethical awareness, using materials like acrylic, bamboo, and cotton while not including materials like leather, fur, and wool (Choi 2021). While there are greener alternatives for more ethical practices, the cruel procedure of capturing pythons is still a practice that many still support today.

The use of python skins as the main raw material for python skin handbags risks the endangerment of the species. This process includes secretive smuggling and inhumane practices to kill pythons for their skin. While this practice is cruel and unsustainable, the practice has been continuously going for years to fuel the fashion industry. The ignorance of customers only plays a role in supporting this inhumane practice. Luckily, some companies are slowly realizing the negative effects of exotic leather and is implementing vegan practices instead. However, it will take a while for major luxury brands including Louis Vuitton to switch their ongoing practices completely. Due to how unsustainable this approach is in fashion, countries in Southeast Asia continue the export of python skin products to reach the luxury standard the world still has today.

Works Cited

Adil. “How to Take Care of Python Skin Exotic Handbags?” Chic, 2022, www.chic.ae/take-care-of-python-skin-exotic-handbags/. 

Amatulli, C., Costabile, M., De Angelis, M., Guido, G. (2017). Luxury, Sustainability, and “Made In”. In: Sustainable Luxury Brands. Palgrave Advances in Luxury. Palgrave Macmillan, London. www.doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60159-9_3 

Butkute, Ruta. “Fashion’s Obsession with Python Leather Can Be Cured in a Lab.” Fashion’s Obsession with Python Leather Can Be Cured in a Lab - Kinder World, 19 Sept. 2018, www.kinder.world/articles/solutions/fashions-obsession-with-python-leather-can-be-cured-in-a-lab-19293. 

Can I Compost It?. “Can You Put Shedded Skin of Snake in the Compost Bin? Find out Here!” Can You Put Shedded Skin of Snake in the Compost Bin? Find out Here!, www.canicompostit.com/shedded-skin-of-snake/. Accessed 3 June 2024. 

Choi, Yeong, and Kyu Lee. "Ethical Consumers’ Awareness of Vegan Materials: Focused on Fake Fur and Fake Leather." Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 1, 2021, p. 436, www.doi.org/10.3390/su13010436. Accessed 4 Jun. 2024.

​​Four Paws International. “Industry Fact Sheet: Python Leather.” Media 4 Paws. 

Ijeomah, Henry MMADUABUCHI, et al. “UTILIZATION AND THREATS OF SNAKES IN NIGERIA.” University of Port Harcourt, Nasarawa State University, 2017, www.researchgate.net/profile/Ogaga-Efenakpo/publication/335884172_UTILIZATION_AND_THREATS_OF_SNAKES_IN_NIGERIA/links/5d821beb92851ceb7911b276/UTILIZATION-AND-THREATS-OF-SNAKES-IN-NIGERIA.pdf.

Louis Vuitton Malletier. “Louis Vuitton Unveils New Packaging.” LVMH, 2016, www.lvmh.com/news-documents/news/louis-vuitton-unveils-new-packaging/.  

Wahab, Darwani Abdul, et al. “Hunting and Trading Activities of Reticulated Python (Python Reticulatus) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia: A Report From the Field.” IOP Conference Series. Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 486, no. 1, Apr. 2020, p. 012029, www.iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/486/1/012029/pdf

Wang, Chiang. "Why Fashion Companies Adopt Green Technology Innovation Strategy: A Perspective of Environmental Social Responsibility." Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol. 11, 2023, p. 1152805, www.doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1152805. Accessed 4 Jun. 2024. 

Annabella Rozzi

Nikko Brody and Renee De Jesus

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Energy Use of Python Skin Handbags

Items made from exotic animal skin have always been considered luxury items. Python skin, especially, has been very expensive to make into bags due to its small surface area. Those who buy these items spend up to thousands of dollars from luxury brands, such as Michael Kors, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, for just one python skin handbag. In the production of python skin handbags, there are many different energy sources and types of energy for every step of its lifecycle. Manpower is mainly used for farming, extracting, and preparing the python skin, as well as manufacturing and selling the purses. There is also heavy use of diesel for international and domestic transportation and distribution, and there is heavy chemical energy use in the bleaching and tanning process. For the metal and fabric components of the purses, there is thermal and electric energy usage for the metalwork, textile creation, and sewing processes. Unfortunately, there is no recycling of these python skin handbags, so there is a heavy emphasis on caring for them for long periods of time, and then they eventually get thrown away into landfills with a very slow decomposition. After evaluating each step of a python skin handbag’s lifecycle, there is clear evidence that this product’s energy use is unsustainable due to the inefficiency of manpower in the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, selling, and caring of this product, as well as the non-renewable energy sources for transportation and manufacturing of all materials.

Manpower is mainly used in most life cycle steps, such as farming, extracting, and preparing the python skin, as well as manufacturing and selling the purses. This use of manpower is very inefficient and unsustainable. There are different ways of obtaining the pythons used. Some East Asian countries still hunt wild pythons, and in many places, the pythons are poached because of the high cost of snake skins. Malaysia has hunted pythons for hundreds of years and has been “the world’s largest exporter of reticulated python skins” since the 1990s (Nossal 3). Unfortunately, this large amount of hunting in Malaysia can cause an imbalance in the ecosystem. For example, “Two long-term hunters noted that it has become more difficult to catch large snakes in recent years, and speculated that forest clearing had left big pythons with less large prey” (Nossal 27). Concerning energy, when hunting, “about half (49%) used a combination of netting and hand-catching methods” (Nossal 23). This means that most hunting is done by manpower with some help of tools through kinetic energy from muscle power. Farming Python isn’t much more sustainable, either. Python breeding farms are located in Asia, specifically Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (Lyons 12). These pythons require a lot of feed to raise and breed, which includes chemical energy (Lyons 26). When killing the pythons, there are three main ways: decapitation, suffocation, or Drowning. China prefers to decapitate their pythons, but “the report published by the Swiss Veterinary Office for the humane killing of reptiles concluded that decapitation is not the most humane method of slaughter due to high resistance to hypoxia experienced by ectotherms” (Lyons 29), which means that their brain continues to function for some time after decapitation. In Vietnam, to suffocate their pythons, “the mouth and anus are taped shut and the alimentary canal is filled with air using an air compressor” (Lyons 29). In Thailand, the breeding farm owners estimated that the pythons take 15 – 20 minutes to die when drowned, and “the Analysis on Humane Killing Methods for Reptiles concluded that drowning is not a humane form slaughter” (Lyons 29). No matter the preferred method, all are judged to be inhumane ways of slaughter, and all are done with manpower and tools. Skinning is also done by hand and with a sharp tool using only kinetic energy. However, these breeding farms have been questioned about their sustainability, stating that “despite growing quickly, P. reticulatus and P. m. bivittatus cannot grow quickly enough (and require too much food) to sustain a viable economic output” (Lyons 30). Preparing the python skin includes a long process: “Most snake skins destined for international markets are sold raw (air-dried). Snakes are killed then skinned, and the skin is scraped free of any connective tissue. Skins are then stretched and nailed to wooden boards where they are left for one day to dry. Once dry, the skins are folded and can be stored in this state for several months (sometimes years) before being exported” (Natusch 407). All of the skinning, scraping, stretching, and drying is done by hand and with the help of tools, which all use kinetic energy from a person. As stated before, python hunting and breeding farms are located in Asian countries, which means that the transportation of these skins is international. This means that transportation needs to be by ship to cross the ocean. Also, the finished purses must be transported by trucks to the stores. Both of these transportation methods require vehicles and a human driver, which generally uses fossil fuels for energy. Going back to manufacturing, the purse-making process includes many steps, such as measuring, cutting, and sewing fabric and sanding and hammering materials (Harby 164-166). All of these steps require an actual person to use their hands and manipulate tools, which takes a lot of time and energy. Finally, selling the python skin handbags requires mainly manpower as well. For Louis Vuitton, “the website displays ‘leather goods,’ ‘ready-to-wear,’ ‘shoes,’ ‘jewelry & timepieces,’ but not all Vuitton goods are available online, and many items can be found in the brick-and-mortar shops only. This allows for the company to maintain control of ‘the selected distribution’ which is key to the selling of luxury” (Armitage 209). These items that are mainly sold in stores include much of Louis Vuitton’s python handbag collection, and due to this location restriction, a physical salesperson is required to discuss the products and sell the product to a buyer. There is significant energy use of brick and mortar stores including in construction, heating and AC, lighting, and more. For luxury products, this energy is distributed over much fewer numbers of items sold because of the very high prices. So, the energy spent per unit is much higher. Also, if these items are used for just special occasions, then the energy per use is increased more significantly compared to an everyday purse. Most of the work necessary in a python skin handbag’s life cycle requires human power. Manpower ultimately comes from the consumption of food and the burning of calories within the body. So the source of this energy is from farming, food production, and food processing. This makes this human power a very inefficient method of manufacturing these items. This also isn’t very efficient because humans can’t produce as much power as other prime movers today. Although manpower is a renewable energy source, all other energy uses in producing python skin handbags are more efficient yet non-renewable. 

High non-renewable energy use is common in the transportation of these goods, as well as the manufacturing of secondary materials and overall purses. When transporting the python skin internationally,  ships are used to cross the oceans. In fact, “the primary way that energy is consumed by the maritime sector is through the use of fossil fuels as power for vessels” (Mensah). This includes different heavy oils, diesel, and natural gas. When transporting the finished python skin handbags across the US to the stores, trucks use diesel as well. These types of fuel sources are very energy-dense but take millions of years to replace. As stated before, bleaching and tanning of the python skins occur after skinning. “Once dry, the skins are folded and can be stored in this state for several months (sometimes years) before being exported. In this condition, skins are designated biological material until they are tanned to make leather” (Lyons 407). Tanning and bleaching, although, include chemicals and chemical reactions to make it into leather and change colors, which then includes chemical energy. Furthermore, metal needs to be extracted and formed, and textiles need to be created for the interior of the purses. Metalwork and textile creation are both very energy-intensive and often require fossil fuels. In fact, “metals production, from mining ore through manufacturing parts, accounts for 7% of our global energy use”(Huckstepp). Both metalworking and textile creation use thermal and electric energy. After all the materials are created into secondary raw materials, the sewing processes use many different industrial sewing machines that use electric energy (Harby 164). A lot of secondary chemicals are also used in the processing because they don’t become a part of the actual product. The ultimate source of this chemical energy comes from an energy input, such as thermal and electric, during the manufacturing of the final chemicals. All of these fuel sources are not sustainable because of the non-renewable fossil fuels, chemicals, and electricity that are used to produce thermal, chemical, and electric energy. 

At the end of the life cycle, python skin handbags are unsustainable due to their non-existent recycling ability and their slow decomposition rates. There is no known recycling program for exotic skin products. While many refined metals nowadays are recyclable, the metal used in these luxury purses is likely to stay with the discarded purses, so the metal will become single-use when disposed of, which significantly adds to the wasted energy. So, they are disposed of and end up in landfills. The handbags then stay there for a very long time because of the tanning process. Tanning is “the process of turning an animal skin (natural, able to decompose, and susceptible to bacteria) into a leather,” which converts the skin into a material that is “durable and no longer susceptible to the elements” (Mendal). This means that it no longer decomposes as it originally should. This is why there is such a heavy emphasis on caring for the python handbags, which requires manpower because everything is done only by hand with some chemical use such as balms or sprays for maintenance (“How to Care for Snakeskin Bag”). Even though most bags are kept around for a long time and maintained very well, the overprocessing of the python skins prevents these bags from being recycled into another product’s life.

In conclusion, the life cycle of python skin handbags is unsustainable. The manpower used in most of the steps is inefficient, and, at times, the process is inhumane. Non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, diesel, bleaching and tanning chemicals, and electricity, are highly used. Caring for the bags takes a lot of careful work, and there is no recycling of these bags, which results in direct disposal with a slow decomposition from overprocessing. There are much lower energy cost alternatives around the world today, and it is often the case that luxury items are usually redundant and unessential, so most of the energy cost is an unnecessary use. Based on these supporting facts, I believe we as a society should move away from rare luxury items, especially those that are environmentally harmful and inhumane, and towards more sustainable items that include efficient power, better renewable energy, and possible recycling or even design-for-recycling of those items. 

Bibliography

Armitage, John, and Joanne Roberts. Critical Luxury Studies: Art, Design, Media. Edinburgh University Press, 2016.

Harby, Sahar. “The technical specifications for the operation of Women’s handbag production line and their application at the Department of Leather Industries.” International Design Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, 1 Oct. 2018, pp. 155–171.

“How to Care for Snakeskin Bag.” Exotic Python Exclusive Bags and Accessories, Exotic Python, 2020, exoticpython.com/blogs/how-to-care-for-python-skin-products/.

Huckstepp, Alex. “Energy Consumption in Metal Additive Manufacturing.” Digital Alloys, 17 June 2019, www.digitalalloys.com/blog/energy-consumption-metal-additive-manufacturing/#:~:text=Energy%20is%20required%20to%20process,of%20powders%2C%20with%20higher%20yield.

Kasterine, Alexander. The Trade in Southeast Asian Python Skins. International Trade Centre (ITC), 2012.

Kulit, Majalah, and Karet Dan Plastik. The Effects of Finish Type on Permeability and Organoleptic Properties of Python (Python Reticulatus) Skin Finished Leather. Center for Leather, Rubber, and Plastic Ministry of Industry, 2017.

Lyons, Jessica A., and Daniel J.D. Natusch. Assessment of Python Breeding Farms Supplying the International High-End Leather Industry. IUCN, 2014.

Mehta, Megha. Investigating the Structural Differences of Hides, Skins, and Leather throughout the Different Processing Stages. New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association, 2020.

Mendal, Abram. “How We Tan Python Skin.” How We Tan Python Skin, 10 Apr. 2013, www.panamleathers.com/blog/bid/276421/How-We-Tan-Python-Skin#:~:text=Tanning%20is%20the%20process%20of,to%20bacteria)%20into%20a%20leather.

Mensah, Anthony. “World Shipping Energy.” World Shipping Energy, 2022, large.stanford.edu/courses/2022/ph240/mensah2/#:~:text=The%20primary%20way%20that%20energy,3%5D.

Mossberg, Sophia. "Python Crossing Prohibited: The Interplay of Ethics, Aesthetics, Regulation, and Industry Transformation in the Luxury Appeal Market." William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, vol. 41, no. 3, Spring 2017, pp. 751-[ii]. HeinOnline, https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/wmelpr41&i=785.

Natusch, Daniel J. D., et al. “ Serpent’s source: Determining the source and geographic origin of traded python skins using isotopic and elemental markers.” Biological Conservation, vol. 209, 2017, pp. 406–414.

Nossal, K., et al. Trade In Python Skins: Impact On Livelihoods In Peninsular Malaysia. International Trade Centre (ITC), 2016.

Nikko Brody

Group Members: Bella Rozzi, Renee De Jesus

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

The production and lifecycle of a python skin handbag generates an extreme amount of waste and causes mass amounts of environmental degradation, stemming from various stages in the production process such as the farming and hunting of pythons, toxic chemicals and water waste in the tanning process, fossil fuel emissions from transportation services, and significant disposal issues, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable and ethical alternatives in luxury fashion. Throughout the lifecycle, from raw materials acquisition to disposal, python skin bags generate an immense amount of waste with minimal recycling prospects and the likely chance of the bags' materials sitting in a landfill for centuries. The fashion industry, specifically the luxury fashion industry, needs to take a hard look at the amount of waste and earth altering emissions produced to create a single product. In an era where sustainability and environmental consciousness are crucial for saving the planet, it is essential for large companies to understand the environmental and ethical repercussions and health risks associated with the entire lifecycle of their products.

The production of a python skin bag begins with acquiring the main raw material: python skin. The python skin used for luxury goods usually comes out of Asia, specifically China, Thailand and Vietnam, and has two ways of being obtained, through hunting or farming. Hunting pythons is less common due to its higher difficulty and lower income compared to python skin farming. Large scale python farms can house more than 15,000 pythons at a time, with some farms killing 20 to 30 pythons per day (Gibson, 1). With thousands of pythons to raise, feed, and skin, various types of waste and pollutants are produced throughout the full farming process. The first waste that arises is organic waste from unhatched python eggs, with the most productive farms having a hatching rate of 75-90% (Lyons and Natusch, 21). The small cages that the pythons are kept in, from hatching to full maturity, are cleaned with water and disinfectant daily. The water left over contains fecal matter, shedded snake skin and remnants of products used for disinfecting. Pythons are highly efficient animals, excreting only 9% of the food they consume every one to two weeks (“How Often do Ball Pythons Poop?”, 1). Despite the minimal fecal matter, the cleaning water should be collected using a gutter system to prevent the spread of disease into local water systems. Unfortunately, many farms aren’t held to this standard or are entirely unregulated by the government, allowing the water to run off untreated.

The slaughter methods used in countries like China, Thailand, and Vietnam, vary in waste production, but were overall deemed inhumane by Alexander Kasterine, a senior advisor at Switzerland's World Trade Organization, who states that without the destruction of the brain the snakes unnecessarily suffer (Kasterine, 39). Python skin farms in China and Malaysia rely on a decapitation method, which produces minimal waste by only removing the head. However, studies indicate that reptiles can remain conscious for up to 50 minutes after decapitation, raising ethical concerns about the snake's unnecessary suffering (Kasterine, 41). Vietnam python farms use a unique and violent form of slaughtering where the mouth and anus are sealed shut using tape and ”the alimentary canal is filled with air using an air compressor” or water from a hose (Lyons and Natusch, 29). This method generates organic waste from the leftover bones and internal organs and, when water is used, it results in water contaminated with the remnants of the pythons internal organs. In certain areas of the world, the non-skin parts aren’t wasted but are valued for their medicinal properties, believed to soothe asthma and boost strength and fertility.

Cotton, used in the inside portion of the handbag, also contributes significantly to environmental waste and pollution. Cotton crop waste, including stems, branches, and roots, can be repurposed as fuel or compost, but the runoff from cotton fields poses serious environmental threats. Runoff from cotton fields often contain harmful pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, and minerals that contaminate water sources, soil and invade aquatic habitats. The metal components of the handbag, such as zippers and buckles, are made from silver, introducing additional environmental concerns. The silver mining process is highly toxic, emitting large amounts of greenhouse gasses during smelting and processing of the metal. Metals like silver are usually found in rocks heavy with sulfide minerals. When excavated during the mining process, the sulfides in the rock are exposed to air and water, turning into sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid, also known as acid runoff, contaminates drinking water, accelerates the material erosion of infrastructures and disrupts the reproduction and growth of plants and animals in the area (“How Does Mine Drainage Occur”). Silver waste, classified as a hazardous material, must be disposed of at reclamation facilities due to its high mercury content, which is toxic to soil, water, and air. Mercury pollution from silver mining can stunt crop growth and contaminate the food chain with toxic heavy metals, highlighting the severe environmental impact of metal components in fashion accessories (“Why is Silver a Hazardous Waste?”, 2017).

The leather tanning process is the first stage of manufacturing and involves multiple stages of production. Each stage generates significant waste in the form of water waste and chemical waste with “Pre-tanning and tanning operations contribut[ing to] about 57% of the water consumption in leather processing and the washings about 35%” (Rao et al.,1). Directly after skin removal the snake skins are initially preserved using salt to prevent decomposition. The residual salts that are rinsed off with water need to be properly collected because of the damage mass amounts of salt could have on the surrounding environment if not disposed of properly. The beaming stage involves rehydrating and cleaning the skin by soaking it in water mixed with soap detergents to remove any remaining dirt or flesh (“Leather Tanning”). The soap detergents mixed in with the dirty water runoff should be collected to prevent contamination of water sources. Next, the liming process begins, using calcium hydroxide to remove loose scales, natural fats and grease from the python skin. This process results in a lime sludge that is highly alkaline, raising concerns about potential water runoff that is harmful to aquatic plants and animals. The lime solution is removed through a process called deliming. Ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate are delming agents that help lower the pH of the skin and allow the chemicals in the upcoming steps to penetrate the skin with ease. The deliming agents neutralize when in contact with the lime solution, producing the compound calcium chloride. Calcium chloride dissolves completely in water making it invisible and extra dangerous for aquatic organisms and amphibians that come in contact with the high levels of salt, chloride and metals in water contaminated by the deliming process.

Tannery wastewater is considered one of the most toxic wastes produced in the fashion industry largely due to the last three steps in the tanning process: pickling, tanning and fatliquoring. Pickling involves a drastic reduction in pH to a 2-2.5 range by treating the python skin with a solution of salt, sulfuric acid and formic acid (Jackson-Moss, 1). Any combination of salts and acids should not be released into or allowed to enter a water source because acidic wastewater can be extremely harmful. At low pH levels, fish and some aquatic plants cannot survive, resulting in locations like acidic lakes or ponds becoming completely devoid of fish and other aquatic life. In the tanning stage, skins are soaked in chromium salts resulting in highly saline wastewater containing sulfites and various salts, making the water alkaline. If this solution reaches a freshwater source the water will become highly alkaline and “the effects on fish may include: death, damage to outer surfaces like gills, eyes, and skin and an inability to dispose of metabolic wastes” (“Acids & Alkalis in freshwater”, 1). The final tanning stage is fatliquoring, a process that adds vegetable oils or animal grease to the leather to prevent it from sticking together or cracking. The resulting wastewater has similar impacts to the environment as petroleum oils, potentially depleting oxygen levels to a point where aquatic life is suffocated. Other wildlife that come in contact “with animal fats or vegetable oils could die of hypothermia, dehydration and diarrhea, or starvation” (“Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats”, 1). The tanning process and the broader luxury fashion industry significantly harm the environment through the release of toxic chemicals, water contamination, and, in result, the depletion of aquatic life, emphasizing the desperately needed shift to a more sustainable and eco-friendly tanning process.

The transportation and distribution of python skin materials and products by air and sea require large amounts of fossil fuels, resulting in substantial CO2 emissions that significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. Before being tanned, the python skins get transported from the python farms in Asia to the major tanneries in Europe or the United States by freight plane or ship. A typical route from SouthEast Asia to Europe involves three separate flights and 8,679 miles of travel. For a single passenger, this trip would burn approximately 1,565.60 pounds of fuel, but when considering the added weight of the products and multiple passengers, the fuel consumption for a single shipment could triple. Another common shipping route is from Asia to the United States, specifically from Ho Chi Minh City airport, Vietnam to John F. Kennedy airport, New York City. This flight covers 11,391.3 miles and consumes 2,197.1 pounds of fuel for a one way trip with a single passenger. From an environmental standpoint the burning of thousands of pounds of fossil fuels to transport a single product, often just pre-tanned python skin, is outrageous and raises serious concerns for the state of the planet. These extensive air transport routes contribute significantly to carbon emissions and are leading us to an unlivable future on the earth, making clear the environmental cost of transporting luxury goods across long distances.

In addition to air transport, a significant portion of python skin shipments are transported by sea, which, while emitting less carbon than air transport, still contributes to environmental degradation. Freighter ships carrying python skins from Asia typically dock at major European ports such as Port of Genoa in Italy, Port of Le Havre in France, or Port of Antwerp in Belgium. A ship traveling from Ho Chi Minh Port to Port of Genoa covers approximately 14,804.888 kilometers, emitting between 148,048.88 to 592,195.52 grams of CO2 depending on the ship's efficiency. Ground transportation is required to move the python skin shipments from farms to airports or ports in Asia and from European ports to manufacturing facilities. After manufacturing is complete, the finished python skin handbags are distributed in Europe, usually by diesel burning trucks or trains. Handbags traveling to the United States from Europe have to make the 4,951 mile trip across the Atlantic Ocean by freight ship or plane. Once in the United States, the handbags are transported by truck, plane or train and distributed to stores and customers all across the country. In total it could take thousands of pounds of burning fossil fuels and immense amounts of CO2 emissions to transport a python skin bag from materials manufacturing, to bag production and finally to the consumer. The cumulative environmental impact of these transportation and distribution stages highlights the excessive waste of fossil fuels and emphasizes the urgent need for more sustainable transportation practices in the luxury fashion industry.

The use and maintenance of a python skin handbag produces notably the least amount of waste, pollutants or emissions throughout the handbag's entire lifecycle. There is minimal waste produced to maintain the quality and longevity of the handbag, as python skin bags should only be cleaned using a cotton cloth and water. On occasion a small amount of leather conditioner appropriate for snake skin products can be used, producing a miniscule amount of contaminated water waste. When a consumer no longer wants their python skin bag, the best and most sustainable way to recycle it is by giving it to someone they know or donating it to a thrift store where the product can find a new home. Unfortunately, most handbags end up in landfills at the end of their lifecycle where they take many years to decompose. The leather tanning process focuses mainly on the longevity and durability of the leather goods and not the products ability to biodegrade when disposed of. The tanning process uses chemicals to change the chemistry of the fibers in snakeskin and makes it a lot more difficult for fungi and bacteria to break the skin down into nutrients (“Is Zeology tanned leather more biodegradable than chrome tanned leather?”, 1). Natural, unprocessed leather can biodegrade within years, but tanned leather can take from 10 to 50 years to decompose. The cotton fabrics in the bag decompose easily and should biodegrade fully within a couple weeks to 6 months (“How Long Does It Take To Decompose?”). The silver metal on the handbag will likely tarnish overtime, but won’t fully decompose for an astonishing 50 to 500 years. The environmental impact of products that decompose slowly and create persistent waste, like luxury python skin bags, must be addressed by raw materials manufacturers, product design teams and the fashion industry as a whole. The future of luxury snakeskin goods should focus on developing tanned leather that biodegrades more easily or providing customers with an option to return the bag to the manufacturer for responsible disposal.    

In conclusion, the lifecycle of python skin handbags impose a significant environmental issue, determined by extensive waste generation, water use and environmental degradation across almost all of the production stages. The urgent call for more sustainable and ethical alternatives in luxury fashion cannot be overlooked based on the substantial environmental impact current practices have on the planet. As python skin handbags contribute to the immeasurable waste accumulation with limited recycling potential, their materials, specifically tanned leather and silver metal pieces, will likely exist in landfills for centuries. It is of vital importance for the luxury fashion industry to critically assess its waste and emissions footprint and the sustainability of third party distributors, recognizing the pressing need for more environmentally conscious practices in today's time of heightened sustainability awareness. 

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