Patagonia apologized and said it would cease purchasing wool from its main supplier, Argentina-based Ovis 21, after PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) released disturbing video last week showing the mistreatment of sheep on the supplier’s farms. The company confirmed the three-minute video showing inhumane castration, tail docking and the slaughter of lambs for meat was of its supplier.
Initisally, Patagonia has said it hoped to rectify the situation with Ovis, but instead decided to cut ties this week.
“We’ve made a frank and open-eyed assessment of the Ovis program,” Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario said. “Our conclusion: it is impossible to ensure immediate changes to objectionable practices on Ovis 21 ranches, and we have therefore made the decision that we will no longer buy wool from them. This is a difficult decision, but it’s the right thing to do.”
No word yet on how the decision will affect Patagonia’s wool product line to retailers and consumers, but Marcario said the brand will continue to use the wool it has already purchased. After that, ”Patagonia will not buy wool again until we can assure our customers of a verifiable process that ensures the humane treatment of animals,” Marcario said. ”Re-building our wool program — with a partner that can ensure a strong and consistent approach to animal welfare, while also fostering healthy grasslands — will be a significant challenge.”
PETA’s 2005 campaign against the practice of mulesing by Australian sheep farmers prompted Patagonia to seek out a new supply chain for merino wool. Mulesing involves removing wool, and often flesh, around the sheep’s tail to prevent flystrike, a condition that can ruin the quality of wool. This led Patagonia to begin sourcing merino wool from Argentina, where flystrike does not exist. Patagonia admitted, however, to not auditing for animal welfare practices at Ovis 21’s suppliers.
Patagonia noted that in early 2014, it began working collaboratively with numerous other brands and the Textile Exchange to develop the forthcoming Responsible Wool Standard for treating sheep and lambs that meets 21st century moral standards for the ethical treatment of animals.
Marcario said Patagonia would continue to make wool products, emphasizing that the production can be done in a humane and sustainable manner, despite PETA’s call for Patagonia to stop making all of its wool and down products.
“We reject the notion that cruelty is essential to wool production, despite what PETA claims,” Marcario said.
