A number of top sports brands have published anti-mulesing policies after exposés revealed the cruelty of mulesed wool production.

Footwear and sports giant Nike has taken a giant step towards animal welfare by switching to certified non-mulesed wool.

The decision follows campaigning by global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, which has been advocating against the cruel procedure of mulesing for years and specifically launched a campaign directed at Nike in 2022.

A successful campaign to #StopCruelWool, saw over 80,000 sports lovers urge the world’s biggest sportswear manufacturer to follow in the footsteps of Adidas and Puma and commit to certified wool.

In a statement, Nike declared that going forward it will only use certified wool sourced with Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which excludes the brutal procedure of mulesing.

‘Important commitment’

Rebecca Picallo Gil, Head of the wool campaign at FOUR PAWS, stated, “We congratulate Nike on this important commitment which will benefit millions of lambs. With the upcoming mulesing season in Australia due to start, this news comes at a crucial time and sends a strong signal to the wool producers, being an influential brand with the potential to inspire the entire apparel market. This win was only possible with the help of tens of thousands of supporters fighting together with FOUR PAWS for better animal welfare in the sports apparel market.”

What is mulesing?

Mulesing is practised in Australia, the world´s biggest supplier of Merino wool. It involves cutting off large chunks of skin from two to ten-week-old lambs with sharp shears without anaesthesia. As a result, the helpless lambs are afraid, stressed, and suffer intense pain.

According to a report by FOUR PAWS, global sports brands utilise Merino wool in their athletic apparel due to its beneficial properties, including breathability and odour control.

Nike’s major competitors, Adidas and Puma, have published anti-mulesing policies, alongside nearly 350 other brands and over 70 brands even signed an open letter to the Australian wool industry to demand an end to the mutilation of lambs.

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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