Chris Packham Challenges Burberry Over ‘Appalling’ Use of Cashmere
Chris Packham Challenges Burberry Over ‘Appalling’ Use of Cashmere
London – “Will Burberry once again lead the way by banning cashmere?” That’s the question wildlife campaigner and environmentalist Chris Packham will put to shareholders on behalf of PETA at Burberry’s annual meeting on Wednesday (15 July). Invoking the “Prorsum” (“Forwards”) banner carried by the knight in Burberry’s iconic logo, Packham will urge the fashion house to move forward by ending the use of cashmere, arguing that the industry causes both severe animal suffering and significant environmental harm.
“Just as I welcomed your decision to ban fur and wild-animal skins, I’m asking you to move forward once again by ending the use of cashmere in Burberry’s collections,” says Packham. “There’s no such thing as ‘responsible’, ‘sustainable’, or ‘cruelty-free’ cashmere. We must do better.”
In his plea, Packham highlights growing concerns about the environmental impact of cashmere production. Goats produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, while intensive grazing can damage fragile grasslands and accelerate desertification. He also points to recent scrutiny of the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), the industry certification scheme of which Burberry is a founding partner, including reports questioning whether cashmere produced under the scheme can genuinely be described as sustainable.
PETA Asia investigations into cashmere operations in China and Mongolia revealed workers pinning frightened goats to the ground and tearing out their hair with sharp, rake-like metal combs, often leaving the animals with bloody wounds. Investigators also documented kid goats having their testicles removed without pain relief and older animals being bludgeoned in the head once their fibre production declined. Packham adds, “Anyone watching this footage can see the distress these animals endure, and it’s appalling that any company could continue to defend cashmere in light of it.”
“Every cashmere scarf comes at a terrible cost to goats, who are pinned down, violently handled, and ultimately killed for their fleece,” says PETA Vice President of Corporate Projects Yvonne Taylor. “Burberry ought to show real leadership by replacing cashmere with innovative animal-free fibres.”
Packham’s full question is available upon request.
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear” – points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a bull is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk or follow PETA on Facebook, X, TikTok, or Instagram.
Contact:
Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327; [email protected]
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