In a landmark decision celebrated by animal rights advocates worldwide, Adidas announced it will no longer use kangaroo leather in its products. The announcement, made on Thursday at its annual stockholders meeting, marks a significant victory in the fight against animal cruelty and shines a light on the dark reality behind fashion’s exploitation of wildlife.
During a recent shareholders meeting, CEO Bjørn Gulden announced that Adidas had quietly ended its use of kangaroo leather months earlier. The confirmation came after Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy, personally traveled to Germany to urge the company to break ties with the cruel and inhumane trade in kangaroo skins.
Adidas’ decision marks the latest victory for the Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign, led by the Center for a Humane Economy. With Diadora, Puma, Nike, New Balance, and U.K.-based Sokito also ending the use of kangaroo leather, the industry is turning away from a brutal trade tied to night-time hunts that kill adults and orphan joeys. These policy shifts reflect a growing global consensus: animals shouldn’t suffer for fashion.
For years, kangaroos, Australia’s beloved national icons, have faced brutal slaughter under the guise of sport and commerce. Every night, hundreds of thousands of kangaroos, including mothers with joeys, are shot across the Australian outback. Many are left to die slow, painful deaths, while surviving joeys are often bludgeoned or discarded. Their skins are then exported around the world, primarily to be turned into high-end soccer cleats and other leather goods.
The use of kangaroo leather, also known as “k-leather,” has been especially controversial. While manufacturers tout it as lightweight and durable, the cost to animal welfare is devastating and entirely unnecessary in an age of high-performance synthetics.
Adidas’ decision to abandon this cruel practice sends a clear message: fashion and sportswear companies can thrive without exploiting animals. It sets a powerful precedent, urging other brands still profiting from animal suffering to evolve with consumer ethics and modern innovation.
It’s time all fashion brands reexamine their supply chains and take accountability. No bag, shoe, or accessory is worth the life of an animal. The future of fashion must be compassionate, sustainable, and cruelty-free. Protecting animals like kangaroos isn’t just an ethical choice, it’s a moral imperative.
