PETA is urging the UK’s new Minister for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to update footwear labelling regulations to clearly identify wool as an animal-derived product, rather than grouping it with textile materials.
In a statement, the organisation said current UK regulations allow wool to be labelled with a standard textile symbol, which is typically associated with plant-based or synthetic materials such as cotton, polyester, or hemp.
While leather carries a widely recognised animal-origin symbol, wool remains categorised under the generic textile label, which PETA argues is “misleading” for consumers. The group insists that, like leather, wool originates from an animal’s body and should be labelled accordingly.
“Every shoe or slipper made from wool comes from an animal that was likely violently beaten, shorn, and eventually slaughtered,” said Kate Werner, Senior Campaigns Director at PETA. She added that the current labelling practices fail to provide ethical transparency.
PETA is calling for a new, distinct symbol to indicate the animal origin of wool in footwear and textile products, allowing consumers to make more informed choices.
“The public deserves transparency,” Werner stated. “PETA is urging Minister Jonathan Reynolds to ensure wool carries a symbol that clearly reflects its animal origin.”
The campaign is part of PETA’s broader effort to hold fashion and retail industries accountable for their use of animal-derived materials and to advocate for cruelty-free alternatives.
Source: CNA
Feature photo source: PETA
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