How to Avoid Live Lamb Cut (Mulesed) Wool When Shopping
A guide for consumers
Sheep wool has long been a fashion favourite. Its soft texture, natural warmth, and breathability make it a go-to material for sweaters, suits, and active wear. But behind this versatile fibre lies a hidden cruelty: 'live lamb cutting' also known as 'mulesing'.
What is live lamb cutting and why is it practiced?
Live lamb cutting (LLC) is the most severe routine mutilation performed on lambs, often as young as two weeks old. Large sections of skin – bigger than your palm – are cut from around the tail and genital area, without adequate pain relief. This leaves open wounds that take weeks to heal, causing severe suffering and, in some cases, death.
The scale of the problem and how it is connected to you
- Over 10 million lambs undergo LLC every year in Australia, the world’s largest wool producer for clothing.
- Over half of the world’s wool in apparel comes from sheep once subjected to LLC. That means if you buy wool without animal welfare certifications, there’s a greater than 50% chance that your purchase could support this cruel practice.
The good news?
You can help avoid this cruelty and encourage brands to adopt better animal welfare standards.
How to shop for LLC/mulesing-free wool
1. Follow the 3Rs: Reduce, Replace, Refine
Protect animals and the planet:
- Reduce: Buy fewer (animal-based) products
- Replace: Choose plant-based or innovative alternative materials instead of wool:
- Plant-based fibres: organic cotton, hemp, linen, etc.
- Sustainable artificial fibres: lyocell, modal, etc.
- Refine: When buying wool, choose items certified to high animal-welfare standards:
- Virgin wool: Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), ZQ Merino, NATIVA, Sustainable Cape Wool Standard
- Recycled wool: Global Recycling Standard (GRS), Recycling Content Standard (RCS)
2. Check the FOUR PAWS Wear It Kind Brand Directory
Start by visiting the Wear It Kind Brand Directory. It rates hundreds of fashion brands on animal welfare issues, including live lamb cutting, fur use, and live plucking in down and feather supplies. Here are the wool indicators explained:
- Green: the brand is committed to only using certified wool free from LLC (mulesing-free)
- Yellow: the brand has committed to transition to only certified wool free from LLC by the latest 2030
- Orange/Red: weak or no commitments; high risk of supporting LLC wool
3. Review the Brand’s Website
If a brand is not listed in our Wear it Kind Brand Directory, look for an animal welfare policy on its website or CSR report. Responsible brands clearly state:
- Which animal materials do they use or avoid
- Where they source wool from
- Which certifications do they follow (e.g., Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), ZQ Merino, or GRS for recycled wool)
If a brand has no clear policy, you can contact us at wearitkind@four-paws.org or encourage the brand to sign our commitment letter to end live lamb cutting by 2030.
4. Inspect Labels
Check product descriptions online and garment labels in store. Look for: 'mulesing-free wool', or better recognised certifications (e.g. RWS, ZQ, GRS, etc.)
Be cautious:
- Avoid vague claims like 'ethically sourced wool' or 'animal-friendly wool'.
- Wool origin alone is not a guarantee. Even wool from outside Australia can be mixed with wool from mutilated lambs unless certifications provide full traceability.
For more details, consult our report Behind the Wool: Transparency on Live Lamb Cutting in Fashion.
5. Ask In-Store
Talking to in-store staff shows that animal welfare matters to customers.
Here are three questions you can ask:
- Does the brand guarantee wool free from live lamb cutting (mulesing-free)?
- Is this product’s wool certified for animal welfare (e.g., RWS, ZQ, etc.)?
- Do you offer recycled wool or plant-based alternatives?
6. Your Voice Matters - Help End Live Lamb Cutting
Public pressure works: major brands like Nike have banned LLC. Michael Kors, on the other hand, scored the lowest in our recent report and still refuses to act.
What about other animal fibres?
If you choose alpaca, cashmere or mohair, look for:
- Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS)
- Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)
- Good Cashmere Standard (GCS)
These improve welfare; further progress is clearly needed, and only animal-free products are truly free of animal cruelty.
Avoid Angora rabbit wool - it’s never animal-friendly. Like fur, we recommend excluding it from your wardrobe.
Don’t want wool at all?
Plant-based and innovative fibres offer warmth, comfort and durability:
- Plant-based fibres: breathable, versatile
- Organic cotton: soft, ideal for knitwear
- Hemp & linen: eco-friendly, insulating and thermoregulating
- Sustainable artificial fibres: low-impact
- Lyocell & modal: wood pulp, non-toxic process
- Next-gen materials:
- Spiber®: biotech protein fibres mimicking wool
- BioFluff®: plant-based plush replacing fur
Fashion can be warm and stylish without exploiting animals.
