Published in April 2022, a FOUR PAWS report on the use of mulesed wool in sportswear revealed severe shortcomings in Nike’s efforts to source mulesing-free wool, unlike its main competitors.
Of all brands, Nike is the one that motivates people to “just do it”, to live a better and healthier life, but it's failing to protect innocent lambs. The brand that claims to create products to prevent athletic injuries, sources wool that comes from intentionally injured sheep. Athletes were outraged and, together with FOUR PAWS, they called on Nike to #StopCruelWool and to JUST DON’T DO IT. Stop using untraceable wool in your products. No lamb should have to endure the outdated and cruel method of mulesing and suffer for sportswear!
As of May 2023, Nike has made a huge step to improve animal welfare by changing its CSR policy. The sportswear giant has publicly stated it will only use certified wool sourced with Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) from now on, which excludes the brutal procedure of mulesing.