Cape Town, 4th November 2024 – By signing the FOUR PAWS Brand Letter of Intent the Barcelona-based fast fashion giant Mango is committing to only source certified wool free from live lamb cutting (mulesing) by 2030. The pressing need for systemic change was recently compiled in the newly published “The Broken Promise” report, in which global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS reveals the failure of the Australian wool industry to ban the outdated and cruel mutilation of lambs just like they promised in the year 2004. In response of 20 years of lambs suffering, FOUR PAWS has also launched the global 'Be Their Voice' 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.  

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 league of 90 international fashion brands and retailers such as Adidas, Zara, Patagonia and many more that have already signed the FOUR PAWS Brand Letter of Intent against live lamb cutting.

“After three years of intense talks we finally can 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 It must finally put an end to this outdated and extremely painful procedure for Merino lambs and transition towards pain-free alternatives,” says Rebecca Picallo Gil, wool campaign lead at FOUR PAWS.

Background

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

FOUR PAWS has launched the Be Their Voice campaign on the 20th anniversary of the Australian wool industry’s failure to end live lamb cutting. The campaign, centred on the story of a lamb named Sunny, exposes the cruelty of this practice. Australian actress Danielle Macdonald (Dumplin', Bird Box) and American actor Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie, Barbie) lend their voices to bring Sunny’s story to life. The goal is to inspire millions to speak up for lambs and push for a ban on live lamb cutting. The campaign is both a powerful awareness initiative and an artistic achievement.

Here is the link to FOUR PAWS’ Brand Letter of Intent.

Here is the link to the ‘Be Their Voice’ campaign video.

Here is the link to the full “The Broken Promise” report.

/ENDS