Working together for compassion in fashion

Industry Information and Tools

FOUR PAWS is committed to working with industry to achieve long-lasting change for animals. We highlight the problems and help to identify solutions, learning together as we go, on the path towards a truly responsible and ethical fashion industry which values animal welfare.

Kindness in fashion makes good business sense. Today, fashion not only has to look and feel great, it has to be great.

Consumers increasingly understand the true cost of products and are choosing to express our values through our purchases. We expect brands to take a stand on the issues that matter to us and we are more likely to stop buying products from brands whose practices conflict with our ethics.And when it comes to the issues that matter, animal welfare is the biggest concern for ethically conscious consumers.

To assist brands, and expediate change for animals, we have collated a range of resources developed or recommended by FOUR PAWS, for companies to use as they transition to becoming part of a kinder fashion future.

Tools and Reports

Support for brands and retailers

Animal Welfare in Fashion Report

FOUR PAWS latest report shows that while good progress is being made fashion brands need to step up for animals. For the second edition of our report we partnered with Good On You to rate 111 international brands on their progress in animal welfare. While the demand for animal-free fashion is rapidly growing, our report shows that most brands still know little about the conditions faced by animals within their supply chains. The good news is that change is happening and 14% of brands included in the 2021 report improved significantly since our last rating.

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Animal Welfare Policy Development Guidelines in Textiles

For brands choosing to continue using animal-derived materials, FOUR PAWS encourages the swift development or strengthening of existing animal welfare policies. These should include a robust vision, goals, and an implementation plan, all aimed at achieving the highest possible animal welfare standards. The FOUR PAWS policy development guidelines can assist brands in developing these essential animal protection plans and contain guidance per animal-derived material.

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World’s first report finds fashion critically lagging on animal welfare

New research from FOUR PAWS finds the fashion industry comes up short between what is said and what is delivered, with only 21% of brands tracing even a portion of animal-derived materials for animal welfare. It also lists the essential first steps brands need to take, including the development of a comprehensive animal welfare policy.

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Transitioning away from mulesed wool. A guide on why and how

Featuring interviews with brand sustainability managers who have already committed to moving away from mulesing, including fashion powerhouses H&M, Kathmandu and Espirit, the mulesing guidebook presents information for brands on what mulesing is, why it’s happening, what the viable pain-free alternatives to managing flystrike are, an overview of the key wool assurance initiatives and a road-map as to how to transition away from mulesed wool within your supply chains.

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'WelFur' - Certified Cruel

Why WelFur fails to stop the suffering of animals on fur farms.

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Economic study on transitioning to non-mulesed sheep

A new independent survey of 97 woolgrowers across Australia shows producers achieving higher profitability, operational viability, and improvements on animal welfare after their transition to plain-bodied sheep. The report also includes 7 case studies to guide other sheep producers on their transition plan for a future without mulesing.

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BRC Veganism in Fashion Voluntary Guideline: To help address and tackle the challenges of creating a vegan line, the British Retail Consortium has worked with its members to create a “Voluntary Guideline on Veganism in Fashion” for retailers and brands to ensure they can provide customers with the level of assurance they expect.