New Balance Joins Nike, Puma in Banning Kangaroo Leather in Soccer Cleats
In a significant shift, New Balance has joined Puma and Nike in discontinuing the use of kangaroo leather in their soccer cleats. This move leaves Adidas as the last major footwear company still selling shoes made from kangaroo skin. Meanwhile, a bill aiming to ban the sale of kangaroo skin in commercial products in the U.S. has been reintroduced in Congress.
The decision by New Balance follows a trend set by other major brands. Puma and Nike have already ceased using kangaroo leather, with Nike planning to stop all use by the end of 2023. New Balance, however, has set a later deadline of the end of 2024. The company added kangaroo to its updated 2023 Restricted Substances Manual, indicating a commitment to phasing out the material.
The shift in the industry comes amidst growing concern for kangaroo welfare. The Kangaroo Protection Act, if passed, would ban the sale of kangaroo skin in commercial products in the U.S. Currently, a state ban in California already prohibits the sale of kangaroo material within its borders.
With New Balance's announcement, the number of major footwear companies using kangaroo leather in their shoes has dwindled to one, Adidas. The trend reflects a growing sensitivity to animal welfare issues in the fashion and sports industries. Meanwhile, the Kangaroo Protection Act's reintroduction in Congress signals a potential further tightening of regulations on the use of kangaroo skin in the U.S.
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