Published in April 2022, a FOUR PAWS report on the use of live lamb cut wool in sportswear revealed severe shortcomings in Nike’s efforts to source live lamb cutting-free wool, unlike its main competitors.
 
Of all brands, Nike is the one that motivates people to “just do it”, to live a better and healthier life, but it's failing to protect innocent lambs. The brand that claims to create products to prevent athletic injuries, sources wool that comes from intentionally injured sheep. Athletes were outraged and, together with FOUR PAWS, they called on Nike to #StopCruelWool and to JUST DON’T DO IT. Stop using untraceable wool in your products. No lamb should have to endure the outdated and cruel method of live lamb cutting (mulesing) and suffer for sportswear!

As of May 2023, Nike has made a huge step to improve animal welfare by changing its CSR policy. The sportswear giant has publicly stated it will only use certified wool sourced with Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) from now on, which excludes the brutal procedure of live lamb cutting.

Athletes and fans of Nike came together to send a message to the brand: Nike, just don’t do it. Don’t allow lambs to be injured for wool. This achievement is the result of tens of thousands of supporters fighting together with FOUR PAWS for better animal welfare in the sports apparel market. See the video below that aimed to put pressure on Nike to #StopCruelWool. 

Important Note: Asking Nike to #StopCruelWool and to commit to certified live lamb cutting-free wool, does not mean that live lamb cutting-free wool is wool completely free of animal cruelty. There are other animal welfare issues which need to be tackled as well. However, live lamb cutting is the biggest surgical intervention which farmed animals are subjected to on a routine basis. It was invented 100 years ago to save sheep from flystrike, when pain-free alternatives were lacking; alternatives that are available now. Ending live lamb cutting is an urgent call to improve the lives of millions of lambs. Nevertheless, the journey towards high sheep welfare will not stop there.