It was only a few days ago that they were ending the use of kangaroo leather, and now have pledged to do the same. Over the past five years, other major brands like , , and have distanced themselves from the kangaroo leather trade, in favour of various alternatives.

‘With the rapid-fire announcements from ASICS and adidas, we’re witnessing the dismantling of a supply chain built on bloodshed and the orphaning of kangaroo joeys,’ said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy. ‘The foreign markets for kangaroo skins are collapsing, and that can only mean good news for the iconic marsupials of Australia.’

Every year almost two million kangaroos are killed for their leather in Australia, but ever since the 'Kangaroos Are Not Shoes' campaign (spearheaded by the Center for a Humane Economy) launched, that number has dropped to 1.3 million. The Center credits this impressive effect with its efforts conducting investigations into the practice, protesting, and ‘exposing brutal realities of the kangaroo skin trade’.

Today, an ASICS staffer from the Japanese brand’s sustainability department wrote to Animal Wellness and the Center for a Humane Economy, stating: ‘We would like to share with you that, as we have successfully developed high-performance alternatives to kangaroo leather, we are moving toward ending the production of products using kangaroo leather by the end of 2025’.

Kangaroo leather was previously a prized material for footwear production due to its durability and lightweight properties, and remained a fixture in football boots for decades. ASICS' football catalogue, like the LETHAL BLEND, LETHAL TIGREOR and ULTREZZA, all utilise kangaroo leather in the upper. The Japanese brand haven’t made any official announcement on their channels, but specific models on the ASICS website now display a discontinuation notice.

Next on the Center for a Humane Economy’s target list is Japanese sportswear brand , so there’s no doubt we’ll be hearing more on this hot topic soon. Keep it locked for all the latest.