Asos expands animal welfare policy to include silk and cashmere

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jun 19, 2018

Online fashion retailer Asos has pledged to stop stocking products containing silk, feathers, down, cashmere, mohair, bone, shell and teeth in an updated animal welfare policy.

This will apply to all products sold on any of the e-tailer’s sites, including Asos and Asos Marketplace. The updated will be effective immediately, with the aim of making its sites free of these materials by the end of January 2019.

“Asos firmly believes it is not acceptable for animals to suffer in the name of fashion or cosmetics. No animals should be slaughtered specifically to produce products sold through any of Asos' websites,” said the company in its updated policy.

The ban will affect popular items like down jackets unless third party brands are able to provide Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Traceable Down Standard (TDS) certifications.

The changes were made to align Asos’ policies for third party products with those created for own label products, which were already free of feathers, down, bone, shell or teeth. Silk, cashmere and mohair are new additions to the policy.

The company has also previously banned the use of fur, exotic skins and angora and other rabbit hair. Meanwhile leather, wool and other animal hair must be sourced as a by-product of the meat industry.