Adidas has officially stepped away from using kangaroo leather in its sports shoes. The news was shared by CEO Bjørn Gulden during the company’s annual stockholders meeting held in Fürth, Germany.

The decision came after pressure from animal rights groups, especially the Center for a Humane Economy. Its president, Wayne Pacelle, personally attended the meeting to ask Adidas to stop using kangaroo skins.

Back in 2020, the Center launched a campaign called “Kangaroos Are Not Shoes” to stop the killing of kangaroos for leather.

This campaign has already convinced major brands like Diadora, Puma, Nike, and New Balance to leave the kangaroo leather trade.

“The mass killing of kangaroos has been driven by exports mainly for kangaroo skins”

Wayne Pacelle, President, Center for a Humane Economy

“With Adidas exiting the trade, we have shut down sourcing of skins by the world’s top five athletic shoe brands. We now will redouble our efforts to secure similar pledges from Japanese companies Asics and Mizuno and end this trade once and for all”

Wayne Pacelle, President, Center for a Humane Economy