'The skins come from animals that lived in the country, [were killed for their meat] and processed with environmentally friendly tanning stuffs,' Dutch brand Alphenberg promises on its website.
That guarantee helped persuade Winston Lam Wing-heng, founder of Kitchens + Interiors, to import Alphenberg's water-buffalo leather tiles for use on walls, ceilings and floors.
'Alphenberg's leather tiles have that warm feel, which offers a good contrast to Hong Kong's ultra-sleek and contemporary designs,' Lam says. 'This is particularly important for homes and places where a dose of warm atmosphere is desirable, such as in an office, shop or restaurant.'
The toxin-free tiles are coloured with natural dyes and are available in two finishes - Tundra (a matt, suede-like finish that is scratch resistant) and Pampas (a glossy finish that is protected against stains and other marks) - each of which comes in four shades.
Lam says most other leather tiles are made from reconstituted leather but those from the Dutch brand are made from strips of water-buffalo leather, which is supple, soft to the touch and 'alive'.
He suggests mixing and matching the tiles with wood and stone as 'the grains in the leather and the dark or light shade give a vintage look that is also very trendy, again producing a sharp contrast'.
