Adidas Faces Mounting Pressure from Animal Rights Groups to Ban Kangaroo Skins
Adidas is under increased pressure from animal rights groups urging the sportswear giant to cease using kangaroo skins in the production of its shoes. The call for an immediate ban intensified following disruptions by animal advocates at Adidas’s Annual General Meeting last week.
Responding to shareholder concerns, Adidas CEO Björn Gulden acknowledged that the practice of killing kangaroos for their skins was “terrible.” He also hinted at potential changes, stating there could be a “switch faster than you think.”
Jennifer Skiff, Director of the ‘Kangaroos Are Not Shoes’ campaign at the Center for a Humane Economy, expressed the urgency of the matter: “We encourage [Gulden] to make that announcement soon since the worldwide animal welfare community is deeply concerned that Adidas is an outlier on this issue and its sourcing of skins violates its publicly stated policies about the humane treatment of animals.”
Despite these reassurances, Skiff remains skeptical of Adidas’s commitments. She pointed out that the brand had previously pledged in 2012 to end its use of kangaroo skins but later reversed its decision.
Karola Mang, a member of Animal Rebellion who organized the disruption at Adidas’s AGM, voiced her frustration: “When I found out Adidas was the last major company to support this and was using flimsy excuses to justify their participation, I realized I had to do something against it.”
This scrutiny follows announcements from competitors such as Nike, New Balance, and Puma, who agreed last year to cease their involvement in the commercial skin trade, aligning with the Center for a Humane Economy’s campaign, via Yahoo.
The pressure on Adidas is part of a broader movement advocating for more ethical practices within the fashion and sportswear industries. The animal rights groups argue that Adidas’s continued use of kangaroo skins is not only inhumane but also inconsistent with the company’s publicly stated commitment to the humane treatment of animals.
With mounting public and shareholder pressure, Adidas faces a critical decision point. The company’s future actions regarding this issue will likely impact its reputation and relationship with consumers increasingly concerned about animal welfare and ethical sourcing.
As the campaign against the use of kangaroo skins gains momentum, all eyes are on Adidas to see if it will follow its competitors’ lead and commit to a ban, thus aligning with the global movement towards more humane and sustainable practices in the industry.