Latest news with #Pacelle
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. More from WWD ANDAM Doubles Down on Fashion Innovation Award With Two Prizes Loro Piana's Mongolian Initiative; Thermore's New Drop; Challenge the Fabric's 2025 Winner: Short Takes EXCLUSIVE: Sedef Uncu Aki Named CEO at Next Gen Materials Company Gozen 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.' Best of WWD Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Crocs Collaborations From Celebrities & Big Brands You Should Know
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Adidas quietly makes a dramatic change
So you won't eat a burger or bacon, but you'll proudly rock that lambskin bag? Or you'll judge meat-eaters like it's your job and then slip on leather loafers without a second thought. Plenty of us condemn the slaughter of animals for our plates while turning a blind eye to what we stuff into our closets like Cruella de Vil. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter But turns out there is a limit. We all want to support companies that reflect our beliefs, especially when it comes to issues like sustainability, social justice, and the humane treatment of animals. The bottom line is that brand loyalty isn't just about quality or price anymore. It's also about political alignment, ethics, trust, and transparency. For many people, knowing that a brand takes a stand against animal cruelty can be the difference between clicking "buy" or bailing. That growing awareness is now pushing some of the world's biggest companies to make meaningful changes. That's certainly true of one of the most iconic names in athleticwear: Adidas. Adidas announced this week it will stop using kangaroo leather in its footwear. (And I mean, who knew?!) The decision follows pleas from an animal rights activist, Wayne Pacelle, who launched an awareness campaign called "Kangaroos are not Shoes" in 2020. Pacelle then showed up in person at the Adidas annual general meeting last week in Fürth, Germany. Related: Nordstrom makes change sure to anger customers Following the Adidas announcement, Japanese company ASICS made the same decision and will no longer use kangaroo skins for its soccer shoes. "With the rapid-fire announcements from ASICS and adidas, we're witnessing the dismantling of a supply chain built on bloodshed and the orphaning of kangaroo joeys," said Center for a Humane Economy President Wayne Pacelle in a statement. "The foreign markets for kangaroo skins are collapsing, and that can only mean good news for the iconic marsupials of Australia." Pacelle hoped to highlight the plight of one of Australia's most beloved animals and end the use of kangaroo skins in the construction of shoes such as the Adidas Copa Mudial soccer cleats. Related: As many department stores close, this chain adds new locations Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said the company stopped using kangaroo skins several months ago and will not resume purchasing them. Nike, Puma, New Balance, Diadora, and UK-based Sokito had already announced they would stop using kangaroo skins in their products. One of the issues that has drawn outrage is the way kangaroos have suffered due to the commercial hunting industry. Hunters slaughter an estimated 2 million kangaroos annually, including mothers and their joeys. More retail: Aldi releases viral Trader Joe's item that is always out of stock Home Depot, Lowe's rivals strategic growth planTrader Joe's making huge mistake not copying Walmart, Target The hides of adult kangaroos are used for products like soccer cleats, while orphaned joeys are bludgeoned, decapitated, or left to die, according to In Defense of Animals, an international animal protection organization. This widespread cruelty, coupled with the environmental destruction from leather production, has fueled global opposition to kangaroo leather. The practice even prompted action in the U.S., where Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) co-sponsored the Kangaroo Protection Act of 2024. The bill would have banned the manufacturing and sale of products made from kangaroo skin in the U.S., but it died in committee last year. In March 2025, Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025; no further action has been taken yet. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Adidas halts use of controversial Aussie product in shoes
Animal rights campaigners are claiming victory after Adidas announced it was no longer using leather harvested from wild Australian kangaroos. Pressure had been mounting on the German-based sporting manufacturer to cease using the product in its soccer boots because of animal welfare concerns. United States-based Center for a Humane Economy has run a high-profile campaign, highlighting concerns about a lack of oversight when kangaroos are shot, and that joeys are considered collateral and bludgeoned to death. In 2023, Puma, Nike and New Balance abandoned the product, commercially known as K-leather, and switched to synthetic alternatives, which they said were superior. Speaking to Yahoo News from Frankfurt on Friday night, Center for a Humane Economy president Wayne Pacelle said the company's sudden announcement came as a 'surprise', but it was welcome. 'It was time for this very strong global brand to divorce itself from the largest massacre of terrestrial wildlife in the world,' he said. While Adidas used a small amount of leather in its shoes, a decision from such a high profile company is set to be a blow to the industry's morale. Advocates of wild kangaroo harvesting claim their product is more sustainable than farmed alternatives like cow leather and that the animals are harvested sustainably. The Australian Wild Game Industry Council argues shooters kill in a way that "minimises pain, suffering and distress". "The methods for the euthanasia of joeys in instances where they are unintentionally orphaned are also based on scientific research into kangaroo behaviour and ecology," it maintains. Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden announced the decision on May 15 at the company's Annual General Meeting in Fürth, Germany. 'The good news is that we don't need to discuss this anymore because we haven't bought any kangaroo leather since August last year,' he said in German before confirming an end to future production. In video of the speech, seen by Yahoo News, members of the 250-person strong crowd can then be heard erupting in applause. Gulden's announcement followed a 6-minute address by Pacelle, who had travelled from Washington to address the board. Dressed in a suit and tie, and standing at the podium, he delivered what he "hoped" would be a 'very rational argument' on animal welfare and why choices made by large commercial brands like Adidas matter. Continuing, he claimed the conditions of the slaughter did not meet Adidas's own animal welfare standards, and that shooting them to make football boots was 'no longer acceptable in the 21st century'. 'We don't need to use kangaroo leather, it is completely unnecessary. If we take an honest look at what's happening with these animals, we know that this is no longer justifiable,' he added, before reminding the board that in the United States, animal welfare has more donors than any other cause. Following Pacelle's speech, Gulden denied Adidas's decision to stop using kangaroo leather was influenced by Center for a Humane Economy's campaign, or that kangaroos were directly shot to make shoes. 'We don't agree on the matter because you know the meat industry is responsible for regulating the population,' he said in German. 'Shoe production uses waste products, so we'll see now because I hope you come every year, and then we can see if it improves just because we don't make the shoes.' Speaking later with Yahoo, Gulden said leather was a valuable component of what makes kangaroo shooting viable, noting the flesh is not sold at a high price, with much of it used as pet food. He was "baffled" as to why Adidas took so long to make the announcement, given K-leather hadn't been purchased since last year. Protests had been ongoing at stores across the United States, with activists entering shops with placards and calling on the company to abandon its use of kangaroo. "These have created a lot of clamour within the company, and it is definitely behind Nike in the United States, which is definitely an important market," Gulden said. Kangaroo continues to be used in luxury handbags and boots, and by Japanese sporting goods manufacturers Mizuno and ASICS. Center for a Humane Economy is now turning its attention to these shoe brands, and will work to fight any industry expansion into other international markets like China. Animal welfare groups around the world have celebrated Adidas's announcement, which was the most high-profile sporting company to continue selling K-leather boots. Center for a Humane Economy's director of international programs Jennifer Skiff told Yahoo that today had been 'a good day'. Speaking after the AGM she said, 'Adidas's decision marks a historic milestone in animal protection and corporate responsibility. This sends a clear message: compassion is not a compromise. Cruelty has no place in commerce.' Donny Moss from TheirTurn, a group that led dozens of protests in Adidas, said, 'This win belongs to every advocate who stood outside a store, signed a petition, or raised their voice'. In Australia, Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst celebrated the decision, calling it a win for 'transparency, ethics, and global consumer expectations'. 'Australians and animal lovers worldwide owe a great deal to the relentless work of the Center for a Humane Economy and the global coalition that made this possible,' she said. Alyssa Wormald from the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance said it's time for leaders in Australia to see the "writing on the wall" and realise the kangaroo harvesting industry is "dying". "We know the reduced demand for kangaroo products is hitting the kangaroo industry hard. Very few processors are buying carcasses, so shooters are packing it in, and there is no incentive for new shooters to get involved," she said. Adidas has been contacted for comment. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
