diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/extended_material.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/extended_material.rs
index a80a6d5af5503..5ad2e1a8eb42b 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/extended_material.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/extended_material.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use bevy_asset::{Asset, Handle};
 use bevy_reflect::{impl_type_path, Reflect};
 use bevy_render::{
-    mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+    mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     render_asset::RenderAssets,
     render_resource::{
         AsBindGroup, AsBindGroupError, BindGroupLayout, RenderPipelineDescriptor, Shader,
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ pub trait MaterialExtension: Asset + AsBindGroup + Clone + Sized {
     }
 
     /// Customizes the default [`RenderPipelineDescriptor`] for a specific entity using the entity's
-    /// [`MaterialPipelineKey`] and [`MeshVertexBufferLayout`] as input.
+    /// [`MaterialPipelineKey`] and [`MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef`] as input.
     /// Specialization for the base material is applied before this function is called.
     #[allow(unused_variables)]
     #[inline]
     fn specialize(
         pipeline: &MaterialExtensionPipeline,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: MaterialExtensionKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         Ok(())
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ impl<B: Material, E: MaterialExtension> Material for ExtendedMaterial<B, E> {
     fn specialize(
         pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         // Call the base material's specialize function
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lightmap/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lightmap/mod.rs
index c34ac4885707e..30c4bc631fb21 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lightmap/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lightmap/mod.rs
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ fn extract_lightmaps(
             || !render_mesh_instances
                 .get(&entity)
                 .and_then(|mesh_instance| meshes.get(mesh_instance.mesh_asset_id))
-                .is_some_and(|mesh| mesh.layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1.id))
+                .is_some_and(|mesh| mesh.layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1.id))
         {
             continue;
         }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/material.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/material.rs
index aab0ea7a1e26e..6939153c7fcb4 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/material.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/material.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     camera::TemporalJitter,
     extract_instances::{ExtractInstancesPlugin, ExtractedInstances},
     extract_resource::ExtractResource,
-    mesh::{Mesh, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+    mesh::{Mesh, MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef},
     render_asset::RenderAssets,
     render_phase::*,
     render_resource::*,
@@ -171,13 +171,13 @@ pub trait Material: Asset + AsBindGroup + Clone + Sized {
     }
 
     /// Customizes the default [`RenderPipelineDescriptor`] for a specific entity using the entity's
-    /// [`MaterialPipelineKey`] and [`MeshVertexBufferLayout`] as input.
+    /// [`MaterialPipelineKey`] and [`MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef`] as input.
     #[allow(unused_variables)]
     #[inline]
     fn specialize(
         pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         Ok(())
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ where
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut descriptor = self.mesh_pipeline.specialize(key.mesh_key, layout)?;
         if let Some(vertex_shader) = &self.vertex_shader {
@@ -585,6 +585,7 @@ pub fn queue_material_meshes<M: Material>(
                 camera_3d.screen_space_specular_transmission_quality,
             );
         }
+
         let rangefinder = view.rangefinder3d();
         for visible_entity in &visible_entities.entities {
             let Some(material_asset_id) = render_material_instances.get(visible_entity) else {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/pbr_material.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/pbr_material.rs
index 816d88a02f045..a83509267d2ec 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/pbr_material.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/pbr_material.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ use bevy_asset::Asset;
 use bevy_color::Alpha;
 use bevy_math::{Affine2, Mat3, Vec4};
 use bevy_reflect::{std_traits::ReflectDefault, Reflect};
-use bevy_render::{mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout, render_asset::RenderAssets, render_resource::*};
+use bevy_render::{
+    mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef, render_asset::RenderAssets, render_resource::*,
+};
 
 use crate::deferred::DEFAULT_PBR_DEFERRED_LIGHTING_PASS_ID;
 use crate::*;
@@ -813,7 +815,7 @@ impl Material for StandardMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         if let Some(fragment) = descriptor.fragment.as_mut() {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/prepass/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/prepass/mod.rs
index b0b17b4a0301a..818022b5a7cc9 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/prepass/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/prepass/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 mod prepass_bindings;
 
+use bevy_render::mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef;
 use bevy_render::render_resource::binding_types::uniform_buffer;
 pub use prepass_bindings::*;
 
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ use bevy_math::{Affine3A, Mat4};
 use bevy_render::{
     batching::batch_and_prepare_render_phase,
     globals::{GlobalsBuffer, GlobalsUniform},
-    mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout,
     prelude::{Camera, Mesh},
     render_asset::RenderAssets,
     render_phase::*,
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ where
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut bind_group_layouts = vec![if key
             .mesh_key
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ where
             shader_defs.push("BLEND_ALPHA".into());
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_POSITIONS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION.at_shader_location(0));
         }
@@ -363,12 +363,12 @@ where
             shader_defs.push("PREPASS_FRAGMENT".into());
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_UVS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0.at_shader_location(1));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_UVS_B".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1.at_shader_location(2));
         }
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ where
         {
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL.at_shader_location(3));
             shader_defs.push("NORMAL_PREPASS_OR_DEFERRED_PREPASS".into());
-            if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
+            if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
                 shader_defs.push("VERTEX_TANGENTS".into());
                 vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT.at_shader_location(4));
             }
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ where
             shader_defs.push("DEFERRED_PREPASS".into());
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_COLORS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR.at_shader_location(7));
         }
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ where
         );
         bind_group_layouts.insert(1, bind_group);
 
-        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
+        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.0.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
 
         // Setup prepass fragment targets - normals in slot 0 (or None if not needed), motion vectors in slot 1
         let mut targets = vec![
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
index 4cd5f8d7ec699..31f3a29352a28 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     Extract,
 };
 use bevy_transform::components::GlobalTransform;
-use bevy_utils::{tracing::error, Entry, HashMap, Hashed, Parallel};
+use bevy_utils::{tracing::error, Entry, HashMap, Parallel};
 
 #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
 use bevy_utils::warn_once;
@@ -595,12 +595,13 @@ impl MeshPipelineKey {
     }
 }
 
-fn is_skinned(layout: &Hashed<InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout>) -> bool {
-    layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_JOINT_INDEX) && layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_JOINT_WEIGHT)
+fn is_skinned(layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef) -> bool {
+    layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_JOINT_INDEX)
+        && layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_JOINT_WEIGHT)
 }
 pub fn setup_morph_and_skinning_defs(
     mesh_layouts: &MeshLayouts,
-    layout: &Hashed<InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout>,
+    layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     offset: u32,
     key: &MeshPipelineKey,
     shader_defs: &mut Vec<ShaderDefVal>,
@@ -638,7 +639,7 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for MeshPipeline {
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut shader_defs = Vec::new();
         let mut vertex_attributes = Vec::new();
@@ -648,32 +649,32 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for MeshPipeline {
 
         shader_defs.push("VERTEX_OUTPUT_INSTANCE_INDEX".into());
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_POSITIONS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION.at_shader_location(0));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_NORMALS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL.at_shader_location(1));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_UVS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0.at_shader_location(2));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_UVS_B".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_1.at_shader_location(3));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_TANGENTS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT.at_shader_location(4));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_COLORS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR.at_shader_location(5));
         }
@@ -701,7 +702,7 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for MeshPipeline {
             shader_defs.push("SCREEN_SPACE_AMBIENT_OCCLUSION".into());
         }
 
-        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
+        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.0.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
 
         let (label, blend, depth_write_enabled);
         let pass = key.intersection(MeshPipelineKey::BLEND_RESERVED_BITS);
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
index 10bf0571002a9..5a7564e048798 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ use bevy_color::{Color, LinearRgba};
 use bevy_ecs::prelude::*;
 use bevy_reflect::{std_traits::ReflectDefault, Reflect, TypePath};
 use bevy_render::{
-    extract_resource::ExtractResource, mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout, prelude::*, render_resource::*,
+    extract_resource::ExtractResource, mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef, prelude::*,
+    render_resource::*,
 };
 
 pub const WIREFRAME_SHADER_HANDLE: Handle<Shader> = Handle::weak_from_u128(192598014480025766);
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ impl Material for WireframeMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         _key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         descriptor.primitive.polygon_mode = PolygonMode::Line;
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mesh/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mesh/mod.rs
index aee822155fadc..33a21e62d6b58 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mesh/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mesh/mod.rs
@@ -13,11 +13,14 @@ use crate::{
 use bevy_asset::{Asset, Handle};
 use bevy_core::cast_slice;
 use bevy_derive::EnumVariantMeta;
-use bevy_ecs::system::{lifetimeless::SRes, SystemParamItem};
+use bevy_ecs::system::{
+    lifetimeless::{SRes, SResMut},
+    SystemParamItem,
+};
 use bevy_log::warn;
 use bevy_math::*;
 use bevy_reflect::Reflect;
-use bevy_utils::{tracing::error, Hashed};
+use bevy_utils::tracing::error;
 use std::{collections::BTreeMap, hash::Hash, iter::FusedIterator};
 use thiserror::Error;
 use wgpu::{
@@ -25,6 +28,8 @@ use wgpu::{
     VertexStepMode,
 };
 
+use super::{MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef, MeshVertexBufferLayouts};
+
 pub const INDEX_BUFFER_ASSET_INDEX: u64 = 0;
 pub const VERTEX_ATTRIBUTE_BUFFER_ID: u64 = 10;
 
@@ -377,7 +382,10 @@ impl Mesh {
     /// Get this `Mesh`'s [`MeshVertexBufferLayout`], used in [`SpecializedMeshPipeline`].
     ///
     /// [`SpecializedMeshPipeline`]: crate::render_resource::SpecializedMeshPipeline
-    pub fn get_mesh_vertex_buffer_layout(&self) -> MeshVertexBufferLayout {
+    pub fn get_mesh_vertex_buffer_layout(
+        &self,
+        mesh_vertex_buffer_layouts: &mut MeshVertexBufferLayouts,
+    ) -> MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef {
         let mut attributes = Vec::with_capacity(self.attributes.len());
         let mut attribute_ids = Vec::with_capacity(self.attributes.len());
         let mut accumulated_offset = 0;
@@ -391,14 +399,15 @@ impl Mesh {
             accumulated_offset += data.attribute.format.get_size();
         }
 
-        MeshVertexBufferLayout::new(InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout {
+        let layout = MeshVertexBufferLayout {
             layout: VertexBufferLayout {
                 array_stride: accumulated_offset,
                 step_mode: VertexStepMode::Vertex,
                 attributes,
             },
             attribute_ids,
-        })
+        };
+        mesh_vertex_buffer_layouts.insert(layout)
     }
 
     /// Counts all vertices of the mesh.
@@ -967,15 +976,13 @@ impl From<MeshVertexAttribute> for MeshVertexAttributeId {
     }
 }
 
-pub type MeshVertexBufferLayout = Hashed<InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout>;
-
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Hash, Eq, PartialEq)]
-pub struct InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout {
+pub struct MeshVertexBufferLayout {
     attribute_ids: Vec<MeshVertexAttributeId>,
     layout: VertexBufferLayout,
 }
 
-impl InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout {
+impl MeshVertexBufferLayout {
     pub fn new(attribute_ids: Vec<MeshVertexAttributeId>, layout: VertexBufferLayout) -> Self {
         Self {
             attribute_ids,
@@ -1350,7 +1357,7 @@ pub struct GpuMesh {
     pub morph_targets: Option<TextureView>,
     pub buffer_info: GpuBufferInfo,
     pub primitive_topology: PrimitiveTopology,
-    pub layout: MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+    pub layout: MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
 }
 
 /// The index/vertex buffer info of a [`GpuMesh`].
@@ -1367,7 +1374,11 @@ pub enum GpuBufferInfo {
 
 impl RenderAsset for Mesh {
     type PreparedAsset = GpuMesh;
-    type Param = (SRes<RenderDevice>, SRes<RenderAssets<Image>>);
+    type Param = (
+        SRes<RenderDevice>,
+        SRes<RenderAssets<Image>>,
+        SResMut<MeshVertexBufferLayouts>,
+    );
 
     fn asset_usage(&self) -> RenderAssetUsages {
         self.asset_usage
@@ -1376,7 +1387,9 @@ impl RenderAsset for Mesh {
     /// Converts the extracted mesh a into [`GpuMesh`].
     fn prepare_asset(
         self,
-        (render_device, images): &mut SystemParamItem<Self::Param>,
+        (render_device, images, ref mut mesh_vertex_buffer_layouts): &mut SystemParamItem<
+            Self::Param,
+        >,
     ) -> Result<Self::PreparedAsset, PrepareAssetError<Self>> {
         let vertex_buffer_data = self.get_vertex_buffer_data();
         let vertex_buffer = render_device.create_buffer_with_data(&BufferInitDescriptor {
@@ -1399,7 +1412,8 @@ impl RenderAsset for Mesh {
             GpuBufferInfo::NonIndexed
         };
 
-        let mesh_vertex_buffer_layout = self.get_mesh_vertex_buffer_layout();
+        let mesh_vertex_buffer_layout =
+            self.get_mesh_vertex_buffer_layout(mesh_vertex_buffer_layouts);
 
         Ok(GpuMesh {
             vertex_buffer,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mod.rs
index 172565ef1db5b..a6d67e960fe4d 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/mesh/mod.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,18 @@ mod mesh;
 pub mod morph;
 pub mod primitives;
 
+use bevy_utils::HashSet;
 pub use mesh::*;
 pub use primitives::*;
+use std::{
+    hash::{Hash, Hasher},
+    sync::Arc,
+};
 
-use crate::{prelude::Image, render_asset::RenderAssetPlugin};
+use crate::{prelude::Image, render_asset::RenderAssetPlugin, RenderApp};
 use bevy_app::{App, Plugin};
 use bevy_asset::{AssetApp, Handle};
-use bevy_ecs::entity::Entity;
+use bevy_ecs::{entity::Entity, system::Resource};
 
 /// Adds the [`Mesh`] as an asset and makes sure that they are extracted and prepared for the GPU.
 pub struct MeshPlugin;
@@ -27,5 +32,58 @@ impl Plugin for MeshPlugin {
             .register_type::<Vec<Entity>>()
             // 'Mesh' must be prepared after 'Image' as meshes rely on the morph target image being ready
             .add_plugins(RenderAssetPlugin::<Mesh, Image>::default());
+
+        let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) else {
+            return;
+        };
+
+        render_app.init_resource::<MeshVertexBufferLayouts>();
+    }
+}
+
+/// Describes the layout of the mesh vertices in GPU memory.
+///
+/// At most one copy of a mesh vertex buffer layout ever exists in GPU memory at
+/// once. Therefore, comparing these for equality requires only a single pointer
+/// comparison, and this type's [`PartialEq`] and [`Hash`] implementations take
+/// advantage of this. To that end, this type doesn't implement
+/// [`bevy_derive::Deref`] or [`bevy_derive::DerefMut`] in order to reduce the
+/// possibility of accidental deep comparisons, which would be needlessly
+/// expensive.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef(pub Arc<MeshVertexBufferLayout>);
+
+/// Stores the single copy of each mesh vertex buffer layout.
+#[derive(Clone, Default, Resource)]
+pub struct MeshVertexBufferLayouts(HashSet<Arc<MeshVertexBufferLayout>>);
+
+impl MeshVertexBufferLayouts {
+    /// Inserts a new mesh vertex buffer layout in the store and returns a
+    /// reference to it, reusing the existing reference if this mesh vertex
+    /// buffer layout was already in the store.
+    pub(crate) fn insert(&mut self, layout: MeshVertexBufferLayout) -> MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef {
+        // Because the special `PartialEq` and `Hash` implementations that
+        // compare by pointer are on `MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef`, not on
+        // `Arc<MeshVertexBufferLayout>`, this compares the mesh vertex buffer
+        // structurally, not by pointer.
+        MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef(
+            self.0
+                .get_or_insert_with(&layout, |layout| Arc::new(layout.clone()))
+                .clone(),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq for MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        Arc::ptr_eq(&self.0, &other.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef {}
+
+impl Hash for MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef {
+    fn hash<H: Hasher>(&self, state: &mut H) {
+        (&*self.0 as *const MeshVertexBufferLayout as usize).hash(state);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_resource/pipeline_specializer.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_resource/pipeline_specializer.rs
index 7fc8533830ff5..746f7bee7afff 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_resource/pipeline_specializer.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_resource/pipeline_specializer.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
+use crate::mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef;
 use crate::render_resource::CachedComputePipelineId;
 use crate::{
-    mesh::{InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout, MeshVertexBufferLayout, MissingVertexAttributeError},
+    mesh::MissingVertexAttributeError,
     render_resource::{
         CachedRenderPipelineId, ComputePipelineDescriptor, PipelineCache, RenderPipelineDescriptor,
         VertexBufferLayout,
     },
 };
 use bevy_ecs::system::Resource;
-use bevy_utils::{
-    default, hashbrown::hash_map::RawEntryMut, tracing::error, Entry, HashMap, PreHashMap,
-    PreHashMapExt,
-};
+use bevy_utils::{default, hashbrown::hash_map::RawEntryMut, tracing::error, Entry, HashMap};
 use std::{fmt::Debug, hash::Hash};
 use thiserror::Error;
 
@@ -79,14 +77,13 @@ pub trait SpecializedMeshPipeline {
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError>;
 }
 
 #[derive(Resource)]
 pub struct SpecializedMeshPipelines<S: SpecializedMeshPipeline> {
-    mesh_layout_cache:
-        PreHashMap<InnerMeshVertexBufferLayout, HashMap<S::Key, CachedRenderPipelineId>>,
+    mesh_layout_cache: HashMap<(MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef, S::Key), CachedRenderPipelineId>,
     vertex_layout_cache: HashMap<VertexBufferLayout, HashMap<S::Key, CachedRenderPipelineId>>,
 }
 
@@ -106,12 +103,9 @@ impl<S: SpecializedMeshPipeline> SpecializedMeshPipelines<S> {
         cache: &PipelineCache,
         specialize_pipeline: &S,
         key: S::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<CachedRenderPipelineId, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
-        let map = self
-            .mesh_layout_cache
-            .get_or_insert_with(layout, Default::default);
-        match map.entry(key.clone()) {
+        match self.mesh_layout_cache.entry((layout.clone(), key.clone())) {
             Entry::Occupied(entry) => Ok(*entry.into_mut()),
             Entry::Vacant(entry) => {
                 let descriptor = specialize_pipeline
diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/material.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/material.rs
index 8e0dc38d42421..a8588c73f80e3 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/material.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/material.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use bevy_ecs::{
 };
 use bevy_log::error;
 use bevy_render::{
-    mesh::{Mesh, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+    mesh::{Mesh, MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef},
     prelude::Image,
     render_asset::{prepare_assets, RenderAssets},
     render_phase::{
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ pub trait Material2d: AsBindGroup + Asset + Clone + Sized {
     #[inline]
     fn specialize(
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: Material2dKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         Ok(())
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ where
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut descriptor = self.mesh2d_pipeline.specialize(key.mesh_key, layout)?;
         if let Some(vertex_shader) = &self.vertex_shader {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
index 8908ac096d890..045c1e2ca2594 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ use bevy_ecs::{
 };
 use bevy_math::{Affine3, Vec4};
 use bevy_reflect::Reflect;
+use bevy_render::mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef;
 use bevy_render::{
     batching::{
         batch_and_prepare_render_phase, write_batched_instance_buffer, GetBatchData,
         NoAutomaticBatching,
     },
     globals::{GlobalsBuffer, GlobalsUniform},
-    mesh::{GpuBufferInfo, Mesh, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+    mesh::{GpuBufferInfo, Mesh},
     render_asset::RenderAssets,
     render_phase::{PhaseItem, RenderCommand, RenderCommandResult, TrackedRenderPass},
     render_resource::{binding_types::uniform_buffer, *},
@@ -436,32 +437,32 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for Mesh2dPipeline {
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut shader_defs = Vec::new();
         let mut vertex_attributes = Vec::new();
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_POSITIONS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION.at_shader_location(0));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_NORMALS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL.at_shader_location(1));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_UVS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_UV_0.at_shader_location(2));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_TANGENTS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_TANGENT.at_shader_location(3));
         }
 
-        if layout.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
+        if layout.0.contains(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR) {
             shader_defs.push("VERTEX_COLORS".into());
             vertex_attributes.push(Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR.at_shader_location(4));
         }
@@ -504,7 +505,7 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for Mesh2dPipeline {
             }
         }
 
-        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
+        let vertex_buffer_layout = layout.0.get_layout(&vertex_attributes)?;
 
         let format = match key.contains(Mesh2dPipelineKey::HDR) {
             true => ViewTarget::TEXTURE_FORMAT_HDR,
diff --git a/examples/2d/custom_gltf_vertex_attribute.rs b/examples/2d/custom_gltf_vertex_attribute.rs
index 2f84665c31b6e..59c36e754050e 100644
--- a/examples/2d/custom_gltf_vertex_attribute.rs
+++ b/examples/2d/custom_gltf_vertex_attribute.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     reflect::TypePath,
     render::{
-        mesh::{MeshVertexAttribute, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+        mesh::{MeshVertexAttribute, MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef},
         render_resource::*,
     },
     sprite::{Material2d, Material2dKey, Material2dPlugin, MaterialMesh2dBundle, Mesh2dHandle},
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ impl Material2d for CustomMaterial {
 
     fn specialize(
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         _key: Material2dKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
-        let vertex_layout = layout.get_layout(&[
+        let vertex_layout = layout.0.get_layout(&[
             Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION.at_shader_location(0),
             Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_COLOR.at_shader_location(1),
             ATTRIBUTE_BARYCENTRIC.at_shader_location(2),
diff --git a/examples/3d/lines.rs b/examples/3d/lines.rs
index 8342f134918ec..ad2a516b2c50a 100644
--- a/examples/3d/lines.rs
+++ b/examples/3d/lines.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     reflect::TypePath,
     render::{
-        mesh::{MeshVertexBufferLayout, PrimitiveTopology},
+        mesh::{MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef, PrimitiveTopology},
         render_asset::RenderAssetUsages,
         render_resource::{
             AsBindGroup, PolygonMode, RenderPipelineDescriptor, ShaderRef,
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ impl Material for LineMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         _key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         // This is the important part to tell bevy to render this material as a line between vertices
diff --git a/examples/shader/custom_vertex_attribute.rs b/examples/shader/custom_vertex_attribute.rs
index c3abf4d09a8e6..72a816c17cd93 100644
--- a/examples/shader/custom_vertex_attribute.rs
+++ b/examples/shader/custom_vertex_attribute.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     reflect::TypePath,
     render::{
-        mesh::{MeshVertexAttribute, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+        mesh::{MeshVertexAttribute, MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef},
         render_resource::{
             AsBindGroup, RenderPipelineDescriptor, ShaderRef, SpecializedMeshPipelineError,
             VertexFormat,
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ impl Material for CustomMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         _key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
-        let vertex_layout = layout.get_layout(&[
+        let vertex_layout = layout.0.get_layout(&[
             Mesh::ATTRIBUTE_POSITION.at_shader_location(0),
             ATTRIBUTE_BLEND_COLOR.at_shader_location(1),
         ])?;
diff --git a/examples/shader/shader_defs.rs b/examples/shader/shader_defs.rs
index a7da28ff0eedb..8edbd3b957593 100644
--- a/examples/shader/shader_defs.rs
+++ b/examples/shader/shader_defs.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     reflect::TypePath,
     render::{
-        mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         render_resource::{
             AsBindGroup, RenderPipelineDescriptor, ShaderRef, SpecializedMeshPipelineError,
         },
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl Material for CustomMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         if key.bind_group_data.is_red {
diff --git a/examples/shader/shader_instancing.rs b/examples/shader/shader_instancing.rs
index 27dc6f9455d5a..47c7b6e4bac0d 100644
--- a/examples/shader/shader_instancing.rs
+++ b/examples/shader/shader_instancing.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     render::{
         extract_component::{ExtractComponent, ExtractComponentPlugin},
-        mesh::{GpuBufferInfo, MeshVertexBufferLayout},
+        mesh::{GpuBufferInfo, MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef},
         render_asset::RenderAssets,
         render_phase::{
             AddRenderCommand, DrawFunctions, PhaseItem, RenderCommand, RenderCommandResult,
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ impl SpecializedMeshPipeline for CustomPipeline {
     fn specialize(
         &self,
         key: Self::Key,
-        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
     ) -> Result<RenderPipelineDescriptor, SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         let mut descriptor = self.mesh_pipeline.specialize(key, layout)?;
 
diff --git a/examples/shader/shader_material_glsl.rs b/examples/shader/shader_material_glsl.rs
index 27a5e7f31a289..ee780065e5cc1 100644
--- a/examples/shader/shader_material_glsl.rs
+++ b/examples/shader/shader_material_glsl.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use bevy::{
     prelude::*,
     reflect::TypePath,
     render::{
-        mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        mesh::MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         render_resource::{
             AsBindGroup, RenderPipelineDescriptor, ShaderRef, SpecializedMeshPipelineError,
         },
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ impl Material for CustomMaterial {
     fn specialize(
         _pipeline: &MaterialPipeline<Self>,
         descriptor: &mut RenderPipelineDescriptor,
-        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayout,
+        _layout: &MeshVertexBufferLayoutRef,
         _key: MaterialPipelineKey<Self>,
     ) -> Result<(), SpecializedMeshPipelineError> {
         descriptor.vertex.entry_point = "main".into();
diff --git a/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs b/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
index cb808e936881f..88755973c6863 100644
--- a/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
+++ b/examples/stress_tests/many_cubes.rs
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ use bevy::{
     render::{
         render_asset::RenderAssetUsages,
         render_resource::{Extent3d, TextureDimension, TextureFormat},
+        view::NoFrustumCulling,
     },
-    window::{PresentMode, WindowPlugin, WindowResolution},
+    window::{PresentMode, WindowResolution},
     winit::{UpdateMode, WinitSettings},
 };
 use rand::{rngs::StdRng, seq::SliceRandom, Rng, SeedableRng};
@@ -42,6 +43,10 @@ struct Args {
     /// the number of different textures from which to randomly select the material base color. 0 means no textures.
     #[argh(option, default = "0")]
     material_texture_count: usize,
+
+    /// whether to disable frustum culling, for stress testing purposes
+    #[argh(switch)]
+    no_frustum_culling: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Default, Clone)]
@@ -131,12 +136,15 @@ fn setup(
                 let spherical_polar_theta_phi =
                     fibonacci_spiral_on_sphere(golden_ratio, i, N_POINTS);
                 let unit_sphere_p = spherical_polar_to_cartesian(spherical_polar_theta_phi);
-                commands.spawn(PbrBundle {
+                let mut cube = commands.spawn(PbrBundle {
                     mesh: mesh.clone(),
                     material: materials.choose(&mut material_rng).unwrap().clone(),
                     transform: Transform::from_translation((radius * unit_sphere_p).as_vec3()),
                     ..default()
                 });
+                if args.no_frustum_culling {
+                    cube.insert(NoFrustumCulling);
+                }
             }
 
             // camera