23-05-2025
Adidas Is No Longer Sourcing Kangaroo Skins for Its Athletic Shoes
Adidas is no longer sourcing kangaroo skins for its production of athletic shoes, the company announced on Thursday at its annual stockholders meeting. Chief executive officer Bjørn Gulden revealed that Adidas exited the kangaroo skin trade several months ago and will not continue with any purchasing of kangaroo skins.
The announcement followed the in-person pleas of Wayne Pacelle, the president of the Center for a Humane Economy, who traveled to Fürth, Germany to advocate for the halt of the practice at Adidas' annual general meeting.
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The Center for a Humane Economy launched a campaign in 2020 called Kangaroos Are Not Shoes, combatting the slaughter of the animal for use in the production of footwear. The campaign had already resulted in brands such as Diadora, Puma, Nike and New Balance leaving the kangaroo skin trade.
Pacelle was joined in his efforts at the Adidas meeting by German animal rights advocates Milla Widmer and Vanessa Hagler.
'The mass killing of kangaroos has been driven by exports mainly for kangaroo skins,' Pacelle said in a statement. 'With Adidas exiting the trade, we have shut down sourcing of skins by the world's top five athletic shoe brands. We now will redouble our efforts to secure similar pledges from Japanese companies Asics and Mizuno and end this trade once and for all.'
'Adidas' decision marks a historic milestone in animal protection and corporate responsibility,' said Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs for the Center for a Humane Economy, in a statement. 'This sends a clear message: compassion is not a compromise. Cruelty has no place in commerce.'
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