Kangaroos Are Not Shoes
We are working to stop the commercial killing in Australia of roughly two million wild kangaroos annually — mainly to manufacture soccer cleats.
Nike and Puma Announce the End of Their Roles As Market Financiers of Kangaroo Slaughter!
The Issue
Some two million kangaroos are killed each year in the largest commercial slaughter of land-based mammals on the planet. Kangaroos are killed for their skins, including for soccer shoes, and their meat is used for pet food and human consumption. Though over a billion animals were killed in the Australian wildfires, leaving so much carnage and loss of life, Australian political leaders continue to support massive commercial killing of the nation’s iconic animal.
Leaders
Although manufacturers like adidas have made great strides in developing soccer shoes made of synthetic materials (sometimes derived from recycled ocean plastic), more than a dozen major soccer shoe companies continue to use kangaroo leather. Diadora announced it will stop using kangaroo skin by the end of 2020 while Puma and Nike issued announcements this year to end their use in 2023.British fashion designer Paul Smith, who recently collaborated with New Balance on a kangaroo leather soccer shoe, has also disavowed using kangaroo. As have many other fashion brands like Versace and Stella McCartney.
The Business Case
Given that synthetic soccer shoes are lighter, more durable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly — and don’t come with the stigma of a dead animal — the demand for kangaroo leather will decrease. Awareness about the plight of kangaroos and other wildlife affected by the Australian wildfires makes this already indefensible slaughter even more archaic and retrograde. Further, California is the largest market for soccer shoes in the US and prohibits kangaroo leather from being imported or sold in the state.
Actions to Take
Sign Our Petition
Tell your legislators
It would go a long way in convincing adidas, and the other athletic shoemakers to purge their supply chain of kangaroos skins.
Visit the Center's microsite for a timeline of our Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign.
Read More About Our Campaign
Read our investigation into the illegal trade of kangaroo parts in California
Use our Cleat Cheat Sheet when shopping – the first no-buy-list of kangaroo skin soccer shoes.
*Current as of 2021 – not an exhaustive list and some models no longer available