happy lamb in a jacket

Fashion giant Mango says “No” to Australian live lamb cut wool from 2030

Decision follows discussions with FOUR PAWS as Mango signs the FOUR PAWS Brand Letter of Intent campaign

7.11.2024

5 November 2024 – Spanish fashion giant Mango has now signed the FOUR PAWS Brand Letter of Intent and committed to only source certified wool free from live lamb cutting (also known as mulesing) by 2030.

Over 80 per cent of superfine Merino wool for the global fashion market comes from Australia – the only country in the world where live lamb cutting (mulesing) is legal.

Family-owned fashion empire Mango, which more than doubled its net profit from 2022 to 2023 and plans to open 500 new stores by 2026, joins the impressive list of 90 international fashion brands and retailers such as Adidas, Zara, Patagonia and Kathmandu that have signed the FOUR PAWS Brand Letter of Intent against live lamb cutting.

“After three years of intense talks, we applaud Mango’s decision to ban the cruel mutilation of lambs and call on Australia, by far the biggest wool producer for clothing, to do the same.

The shift towards more animal welfare for such a key player in the fast fashion sector is also a signal for other competitors to follow suit. The Australian wool industry can no longer ignore the sheer number of brands supporting this global movement. It must finally put an end to this outdated and extremely painful procedure for Merino lambs and transition towards pain-free alternatives.”

Rebecca Picallo Gil, wool campaign lead at FOUR PAWS

In response of 20 years of lambs suffering, last month FOUR PAWS launched the global 'Be Their Voice' animated video, supported by Australian actress Danielle Macdonald and US actor Scott Evans, with the goal to raise awareness and to urge brands and policymakers to end live lamb cutting by 2030.

Be Their Voice for Lambs

Background

The Brand Letter of Intent 

The 'Brand Letter of Intent' is a strong signal to the Australian wool industry and global wool supply chains that live lamb cutting (also known as mulesing) must become a thing of the past. Brands who sign the letter do not want wool from lamb cutting and they are either already certified lamb cutting-free or intend to be by 2030.

The letter directly calls on the Australian wool industry to enable that shift away from any type of lamb cutting (mulesing). The growing anti live lamb cutting movement demonstrates the demand for wool free from lamb cutting exists and may increase in the coming years. In the interests of both the animals and the Australian wool industry, it’s time to make a plan to transition away from live lamb cutting.

What is Live Lamb Cutting?

Live lamb cutting entails large strips of skin and flesh brutally cut away from lambs’ buttocks, without the use of adequate pain relief if used at all. The few weeks old lambs endure excruciating pain, and it is estimated that hundreds of thousands die from its aftereffects. Live lamb cutting is used as a quick and cheap way to prevent fly infestation (flystrike), but there are alternative methods available. The best long-term solution is breeding plain-bodied and flystrike-resistant sheep and proper management of the animals. This can eliminate both flystrike and live lamb cutting.

More FAQs on Live Lamb Cutting

Group of young lambs

'Be Their Voice'


Call for a ban on live lamb cutting to protect lambs like Sunny

Learn more
Elise Burgess

Elise Burgess

Head of Communications

elise.burgess@four-paws.org

M: 0423 873 382

FOUR PAWS Australia
GPO Box 2845 
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Main Phone: 1800 454 228

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them.

Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, animals in fashion, farm animals, and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones.

With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA, and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.au

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