| Term |
Definition |
| Bally Flex |
Test performed to mimic a flexing motion on leather specimens, one wet and one dry. |
| Bio-based |
Materials that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of biological products (biomass). |
| Biodegradable |
Refers to a product breaking down into natural elements, carbon dioxide and water vapor by organisms like bacteria and fungi. |
| Biodegradable Leather |
Leather is made to last and wear well, but has the ability to degrade biologically in 10 to 50 years. |
| Biodegradable Materials |
Materials in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. |
| Bonded Leather |
A material that has been made from leather dust, clippings and leather shavings bonded together with a base substance - usually synthetic. Sometimes also known as leather board. |
| Break |
The way the surface of the leather can wrinkle or "break" down. Also called looseness. |
| Brush Off |
Leather with contrasting base and surface coats. The surface is removed with a burnishing wheel to reveal the lighter, contrasting base color underneath. |
| Buffed Leather |
A leather that has had the top surface buffed to produce a soft velvet-like touch. Depending on the depth of the buffing there will often be a clearly visible nap. This term is also sometimes used for nubuck leather. |
| By-product |
A secondary or incidental product of a manufacturing process (e.g., scrap or emissions). |