Animal welfare organization, Four Paws, has announced that e-commerce giant Zalando has signed a 'Brand Letter of Intent' committing to transitioning toward 100% certified mulesing-free wool within their own brands by 2023.

Mulesing, or the mutilation of lambs, is exclusively practiced in Australia and is frequently associated with the production of Merino wool. According to the organization, Australia supplies up to 80% of the Merino wool used in the fashion industry.

In an open letter to the Australian wool industry, Zalando joins 45 other companies, including Adidas, Hugo Boss, and H&M, in expressing a desire to only acquire certified mulesing-free wool.

The nonprofit's purpose in mobilizing brands is to exert economic pressure on the region's industry to halt mulesing and highlight businesses' rising aversion to utilizing this approach.

Rebecca Picallo Gil of the Four Paws wool campaign said in a statement that getting Zalando engaged in the effort, which the organization has been working for many years, was a "major achievement."

Picallo Gil added that it demonstrates that their anti-mulesing commitment has finally reached the large brands and stores" The Australian wool industry cannot ignore this any longer. It must finally put an end to this antiquated and exceedingly unpleasant technique for Merino sheep and move to pain-free alternatives.

Four Paws has now shifted its focus to Nike, claiming that the company has failed to commit to eliminating the usage of mulesed wool in their goods.