Taming Fashion: the report that shows sustainability is always in style

FOUR PAWS new report series highlights the unsustainable nature of animal-derived materials

17.7.2023

When thinking about animal-derived materials (ADMs) like fur and leather, many fashion brands and individuals hold up the ‘natural’ quality of ADMs as assurance of the sustainability of the textile - ultimately validating the suffering of animals in its production.

Our new report series Taming Fashion, however, highlights how this ‘sustainability’ claim is far from the truth.

Taming Fashion, for the first time, comprehensively highlighted how ADMs used in the fashion industry are not the best choice despite their 'natural' reputation, and bring an inherent animal welfare and environmental risk that is costing the planet dearly.

Despite over five billion animals being farmed and used for textiles, animal welfare continues to take a back seat for brands when compared to environmental protection and human rights issues.

Our report series tackles this issue by combining these elements together and addressing the increased human health risks, and the intrinsic link that textile production has to the highly inefficient animal protein industry. 

So what’s the top line?

The report’s key findings

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ADMs are used extensively in fashion


ADMs are still used extensively in fashion and have a devastating impact on both the environment and the animals involved in their production. 

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 Material choice matters


ADMs being used just because they’re considered ‘natural’ is an unsustainable and cruelty-first mindset that needs shifting.

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A part of animal agriculture


 ADM production is part of animal agriculture, the number one cause of land clearing and responsible for up to 16.5% of greenhouse gases.

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Keep shopping pre-loved


 The preloved market is now booming and there is significant innovation producing animal-free and environmentally preferable ‘next gen’ materials. 

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Public display of commitment


 Brands must publicly commit to reducing their use of animals and strive to only utilise products from supply chains where excellent standards of animal welfare can be guaranteed. 

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be dissecting the key issues, concerns and solutions that are laid out within the report in a blog series.

Plus, we’ll continue calling on brands to make significant reduction commitments and publish them within their animal welfare policies. 

Stay tuned to discover more and join us on our journey towards ensuring a future filled with kinder textiles #WearItKind.

read the report

here

Sophie Miller

Digital Marketing Specialist (Maternity Cover) FOUR PAWS Australia

sophie.miller@four-paws.org

Sophie works in the Communications Team at FOUR PAWS Australia. She has a background in Marketing, PR and Communications across the charity sector. Sophie is passionate about animal welfare and utilises her skills and experience in communications, marketing and PR to bring about change.

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