Patagonia drops wool supplier following video controversy
18/08/2015
A video published by a campaign group in early August showed poor practice at one of the properties in the 160-farm network in southern Argentina and Chile. Ovis 21 immediately withdrew certification from the livestock farm concerned and said it would have acted more quickly if the campaign group had shared the findings of its report right away; it shot the video in December 2014.
In spite of this action, Patagonia chief executive, Rose Marcario, said on August 17 that her company had been “dismayed to witness such horrifying mistreatment” of the sheep from which the wool for its merino baselayer garments has come since 2013.
She said: “Patagonia’s partnership with Ovis 21 has been a source of pride because of the programme’s genuine commitment to regenerating the grassland ecosystem, but this work must come equally with respectful and humane treatment of the animals that contribute to this endeavour.
“In light of this, we’ve made a frank and open-eyed assessment of the Ovis program. Our conclusion: it is impossible to ensure immediate changes to objectionable practices on Ovis 21 ranches, and we have therefore made the decision that we will no longer buy wool from them. This is a difficult decision, but it’s the right thing to do.”
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