Japanese sportswear company Asics has announced it will stop using kangaroo leather in its athletic footwear. The move follows a recent decision by German brand Adidas. The company announced it would no longer use kangaroo skin in its soccer cleats.
Asics’ sustainability team shared an update in an email to Animal Wellness and the Center for a Humane Economy. They announced the development of high-performance alternatives to kangaroo leather. These alternatives meet the standards required for athletic footwear. As a result, the company is phasing out the use of kangaroo leather. The production of such products will end by the close of 2025.
With this decision, Asics joins the ranks of other major sports brands such as Nike, Puma, and New Balance, all of which have already moved away from using kangaroo-derived materials. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy, called the recent announcements by Asics and Adidas “a dismantling of a supply chain built on bloodshed,” adding that the collapse of foreign markets for kangaroo leather signals good news for Australia’s iconic wildlife.
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Growing Momentum Against Kangaroo Leather in the Sportswear Industry
Jennifer Skiff, international programs director at the Center and leader of the “Kangaroos Are Not Shoes” campaign, praised Asics for recognizing that the commercial hunting of wild kangaroos is “neither ethical nor morally defensible.” She also emphasized that Asics’ new materials surpass the performance of kangaroo leather, eliminating any reason to continue the controversial trade.
According to the Center, up to 2 million kangaroos are killed annually in Australia—often at night—leaving many joeys orphaned or killed inhumanely. However, thanks to growing awareness and the ongoing campaign, the annual kill has dropped to 1.3 million, with numbers continuing to decline as more brands adopt humane policies.
With Asics stepping away from kangaroo leather, advocacy groups are now urging Mizuno, the last major athletic brand still using it, to follow suit. “Asics is setting an ethical standard that other Japanese companies should follow. I hope Mizuno will be next,” said Victoria Garafola, the Center’s Japan representative.
Meanwhile, Animal Wellness Action continues to push for the Kangaroo Protection Act in the United States, which would ban the import and sale of products made from kangaroo parts.
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