For decades, kangaroos—Australia’s iconic, sentient, native animals—have been quietly turned into football boots and fashion accessories. Their skins, marketed as “K-leather,” were prized for being lightweight and durable. But behind every pair of boots was a brutal truth: night-time shootings, orphaned joeys, and a commercial industry that treats wildlife as disposable.

Now, finally, the world is waking up.

A Global Shift in Motion

Over the past few years, major sportswear and footwear brands have begun cutting ties with kangaroo leather. This isn’t just a trend—it’s a reckoning. A growing number of companies are recognising that no performance benefit can justify the cruelty behind the product.

Here’s how the shift unfolded:

Brand: Puma Action Taken: Replaced kangaroo leather with “K-Better,” a high-performance synthetic alternative in its KING football boots Year: 2023

Brand: Nike Action Taken: Ended all use of kangaroo leather by the end of 2023, replacing it in its Tiempo line with a proprietary synthetic Year: 2023

Brand: New Balance Action Taken: Quietly phased out kangaroo leather from its footwear range Year: 2024

Brand: Sokito Action Taken: Dropped kangaroo leather, citing concerns over population management and ethics Year: 2024

Brand: Adidas Action Taken: Ceased purchasing kangaroo leather in 2024 and ended production of all K-leather products in 2025 Year: 2024–2025

Brand: ASICS Action Taken: Announced in May 2025 it would end all use of kangaroo leather by the end of the year Year: 2025

Brand: Mizuno Action Taken: Confirmed its exit from the kangaroo leather market in June 2025 Year: 2025

Brand: Umbro Action Taken: Joined the movement in 2025, following mounting pressure and legislative shifts Year: 2025

This shift didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was driven by tireless advocacy—especially from groups like the Center for a Humane Economy and their campaign “Kangaroos Are Not Shoes.” Their work exposed the reality behind the industry:

Kangaroos shot at night, often inaccurately
Joeys bludgeoned or left to die
Animals discarded in paddocks or bushland if deemed unfit for sale

This isn’t humane. It’s industrialised wildlife slaughter.

But What About the Backlash?

As the industry begins to crumble, so too does the narrative that’s propped it up for decades. Here are some of the most common negative comments—and how we can change the story:

“Now they’ll just be shot and left to rot.”

Change the narrative: They already are. The commercial industry doesn’t prevent waste—it creates it. Animals deemed too small or damaged for sale are discarded. Ending the trade doesn’t cause this problem—it forces us to confront it and demand better.

“It’s better they’re used for something than dying on the roads.”

Change the narrative: That’s a false choice. We don’t reduce roadkill by killing more wildlife—we reduce it by slowing down, building wildlife corridors, and respecting their right to exist. Compassion isn’t about choosing how they die—it’s about choosing how we let them live.

“Kangaroo meat and leather are sustainable.”

Change the narrative: There’s nothing sustainable about shooting millions of wild animals at night, orphaning joeys, and disrupting ecosystems. True sustainability protects life—it doesn’t profit from its destruction.

“You people are brain dead. You don’t understand the bush.”

Change the narrative: We understand it deeply. We live it, breathe it, and care for the animals who call it home. This isn’t about city vs. country—it’s about compassion vs. cruelty. And we believe the bush deserves better than bullets.

The Excuses Are Falling Apart

Some argue that kangaroo leather is “sustainable” or “better than letting them die on the roads.” But that’s a false choice. Kangaroos don’t need to die to be protected. They need us to stop creating the conditions that kill them—habitat loss, fencing, speeding vehicles, and yes, commercial exploitation.

And let’s be honest: if this were happening to dogs or horses, the public would be outraged.

Innovation Without Cruelty

The best part? Brands didn’t need to sacrifice performance to make the switch. New materials like K-Better and other synthetics now match or exceed the durability and comfort of kangaroo leather. The message is clear: cruelty is not a requirement for quality.

What This Means for Australia

As global companies walk away from kangaroo leather, Australia is left with a choice: evolve or be left behind. We can continue defending an industry built on blood and suffering—or we can lead the world in ethical wildlife protection.

Because kangaroos are not pests. They are not products. They are not shoes.

They are mothers, joeys, sentient beings. And they deserve better.

Thank You: To the Voices Who Stood Up for Kangaroos

This global shift away from kangaroo leather didn’t happen by accident—it happened because people cared enough to act. To speak out. To persist. And to demand better.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign, launched by the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action, for leading the charge. Since 2020, they have worked tirelessly to expose the cruelty behind the commercial kangaroo industry and to pressure global brands to walk away from it. Their advocacy has been instrumental in convincing Nike, Adidas, Puma, ASICS, New Balance, Mizuno, Umbro, and others to end their use of kangaroo leather.

Special thanks to:

Wayne Pacelle, President of the Center for a Humane Economy, for his relentless leadership and direct engagement with corporate decision-makers
Jennifer Skiff, Director of International Programs, for her powerful voice and global coordination
Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker, for introducing the Kangaroo Protection Act in the U.S. Senate—a historic step toward ending the import and sale of kangaroo products in one of the world’s largest markets
Animal Justice Party, Animal Active, Australian Wildlife Protection Council, Kanga Watch, and so many other grassroots and political organisations in Australia who have kept the pressure on from the ground up
And to every carer, advocate, rescuer, and supporter who has written letters, signed petitions, shared stories, and refused to stay silent

Because of you, the world is changing. Because of you, fewer joeys will be orphaned. Because of you, compassion is winning.

From all of us who love and protect kangaroos—thank you.

Major News: The U.S. Moves to Ban Kangaroo Products

In a landmark move for wildlife protection, Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker have just reintroduced the Kangaroo Protection Act in the U.S. Senate. This bill would ban the import and sale of products made from kangaroo skin, including soccer cleats and other leather goods, effectively ending U.S. complicity in the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife on the planet.

> “Australian law requires joeys to be bludgeoned to death, decapitated or shot if found in the pouch of a mother kangaroo. It’s barbaric — and by still allowing the sale of k-leather within our borders, our country is aiding and abetting the largest commercial slaughter of mammals in the world. That is completely unacceptable.” > — Senator Tammy Duckworth

The bill would empower the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to enforce civil and criminal penalties of up to $10,000 for violations. It mirrors a companion bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.

This legislation follows the lead of major athletic brands—Nike, Puma, Adidas, ASICS, Mizuno, and Umbro—all of which have now committed to ending their use of kangaroo leather. The message is clear: the world is moving on from cruelty.

The Global Shift Away from Kangaroo Leather in Sportswear