A recent analysis by animal welfare advocate Four Paws has shed light on the shortfall in brands’ commitment to safeguarding animal rights.
The third edition of the Animal Welfare in Fashion report has scrutinised 100 brands spanning nine diverse market segments, encompassing sports and fast fashion. The findings indicate a substantial void in proactive measures within the industry to address critical animal welfare concerns.
The report’s brand ranking highlighted pioneers like Patagonia and Stella McCartney for their exemplary efforts. In contrast, labels such as Max Mara, Prada, and Hermès fell short, deemed as brands that have “failed to deliver” on substantive animal welfare commitments.
Though 72 per cent of the scrutinised brands showcased animal welfare policies, the report criticised the lack of tangible impact on animal well-being. Many strategies appeared geared toward material certifications rather than explicitly prioritising animal welfare standards.
Ranny Rustam, Animal Welfare in Textiles Research Lead at FOUR PAWS, said, “While ensuring adequate care of animals used is crucial to any claims of responsible business, brands are still generally washing their hands of animals’ needs, while others attempt to ‘welfare-wash’ over consumer concerns.
The surge in certification rates for mohair (27 per cent) and cashmere (7 per cent) globally signals a positive trend. However, certified wool and down combined constitute a mere fraction—less than 5 per cent—of the global supply. Although certifications in animal welfare aim to address certain cruel practices like mulesing in wool production and live plucking in down and feather production, the existing certifications fall short in including crucial measures vital for the overall well-being of animals.
Rustam stated, “Using animal welfare certifications are a key way to ensure that the animal material supply chain is adequately traced, and in most cases the best way to ensure minimum animal welfare standards are met. This is the absolute minimum a brand should be doing. While 61 per cent of rated brands are using at least one type of certified ADM, very few brands (9 per cent) have a majority of their supply chains certified.”
Moreover, material production and processing contribute significantly to the fashion industry’s carbon emissions, accounting for up to 70 per cent. Four Paws advocated for a reduction in high-emission material usage, urging brands to curb their reliance on greenhouse gas-emitting sources to mitigate environmental impact.
