Winter shopping with animal welfare in mind

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Winter shopping with animal welfare in mind

The seasons are changing, and so are Australian attitudes to how we shop. As we enter the colder months and begin to update the winter essentials that keep us warm, the growing concern regarding how products are made and the desire to shop with welfare in mind is a welcome trend. The movement towards higher-welfare practices within the fashion and textile industries is becoming a key factor in brands retaining their social licence and better aligning with community values.

RSPCA Australia
Thursday, 5 June 2025

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The seasons are changing, and so are Australian attitudes to how we shop. As we enter the colder months and begin to update the winter essentials that keep us warm, the growing concern regarding how products are made and the desire to shop with welfare in mind is a welcome trend. The movement towards higher-welfare practices within the fashion and textile industries is becoming a key factor in brands retaining their social licence and better aligning with community values.

For example, a 2024 YouGov poll noted that over a third of shoppers (36%) would choose one brand over another if it prioritises animal welfare. And, in a historic move this year, Australian Fashion Week went wildlife free, with a new policy implemented by the Australian Fashion Council banning fur, wild animal skins and feathers from the event.

For those wanting to use their purchasing power for good, but are unsure where to start, here is a guide to some of the more common products and some of the animal welfare issues to look out for.

Down

From puffy jackets to big thick quilts, products containing down are often thought to be the superior option for keeping warm during frosty weather. But at what cost to the birds involved?

Down is the soft layer of feathers closest to a duck or goose’s skin, primarily located on birds’ chest and belly. While ducks and geese are mainly farmed for meat production, down feathers are considered a valuable by-product and in most cases are collected after the birds have been slaughtered. However, in some parts of the world such as China, Hungary, and Poland, down may be collected through live plucking which involves birds being individually caught and having their down forcibly removed, resulting in pain, skin damage and other injuries. The process of live plucking exposes birds to inherent suffering and distress due to the process itself, and through poor management and handling, which often result in injury and discomfort.

Live plucking is illegal in most countries including Australia however, down products produced in countries where live plucking is practiced can still find their way into Australian stores. Conscious consumers can help reduce the unnecessary suffering of ducks and geese by considering the growing number of synthetic options available which are often made partly or wholly from recycled materials. Or, if you are still considering buying a down-lined jacket or bedding, then make sure you look for products where the down is collected as a by-product after birds have been slaughtered. Responsible Down provides a detailed list of companies certified to the Responsible Down Standard – or, alternatively, ask the brand directly about their standards for animal welfare.

Cashmere

Often advertised as a luxury product due to its soft feel, cashmere is the fine fibre obtained from Cashmere goats and other similar breeds. Once widely sought after, increased awareness of the welfare issues associated with cashmere production has led many retailers to turn away from using cashmere in favour of more welfare-friendly alternatives.

China and Mongolia are the largest producers of cashmere, using the typical method of collecting the fibre by hand using a metal comb with sharp teeth. The process is stressful and often painful for the goats, who are routinely immobilised by having their legs tied together, while the sharp comb scratches at their skin during the hour or more duration it takes to gather the fibre. Some goats are not moulting at the time they are combed leading to more pain and distress as the cashmere is harder to remove.

There are countries that practice the alternative method of shearing the coats (Australia being one of them), however the goats may still be at risk of compromised welfare through poor handling and potential skin injuries during shearing. In addition, goats are generally only shorn during winter or early spring when weather conditions can be cold and windy, leaving them exposed to the elements especially if they’re not provided adequate shelter. For an improvement in welfare outcomes for cashmere goats, handling must be done in a low-stress manner, shearers must be competent and use best practice technique to reduce the risk of injury, and planning and management is necessary to prevent hypothermia in shorn goats.

For those wanting the soft light feel of cashmere products without the welfare issues, there are several alternatives to cashmere that provide similar softness and warmth. These include products made from bamboo fibre, recycled materials and cotton and linen blends.

Wool

Woollen jumpers continue to be a winter favourite, however it’s important to remember that not all woolly jumpers are created with equal welfare practices.

Many Australian made wool products may come from Merino sheep that have been mulesed: a painful and distressing husbandry procedure where skin on the lamb’s hindquarters and tail area are cut away with large shears in an effort to make them less susceptible to flystrike. Australia is the only country in the world still performing this painful practice which is legal to perform without pain relief in every state and territory except Victoria and Tasmania.

Mulesing causes significant suffering, pain, and distress to lambs, not just during the procedure but for days to weeks after. Routinely conducting a risky surgical procedure like this is just not acceptable when there are alternatives available – which is to transition to breeding fly-strike resistant breeds of sheep. This is a pain-free solution that could be achieved by the wool industry in a few short years, much less time than the wool industry has spent ‘researching alternatives.’

Conscious consumers can do their part to push the industry stop mulesing by choosing to only purchase non-mulesed wool products. Over 300 national and international brands, such as Country Road and David Jones, have pledged to move away from using wool from sheep that have been mulesed. If your favourite brand hasn’t already disclosed their position on mulesing and sheep welfare, we would encourage you to contact them directly to find out about their animal welfare policies.

As the fashion and textile industries are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of animal welfare to their consumers, it’s becoming easier for caring individuals to purchase from and support brands that make animal welfare a priority. Remember, every purchasing choice has the power to speak up for animals and impact their lives for the better.

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Winter shopping with animal welfare in mind

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