London - Adidas has stopped using kangaroo leather in its top branded football boots following complaints of animal cruelty.
Campaigners have been calling for a boycott of the product amid concerns over the culling of the kangaroos involved. This is known to involve shooting the adults and clubbing the young to death.
In the past, all the major manufacturers have used kangaroo for boots worn by stars from David Beckham to Frank Lampard.
Beckham stopped wearing kangaroo leather boots in 2006 after he was given details of the slaughter methods. Now German-owned Adidas has revealed its Predator range is made without kangaroo and it will reduce its use of the skin by 98 percent over the next year.
The move followed pressure from ethical investors, specifically the British organisation Co-op Asset Management and British animal welfare group Viva!
In many parts of Australia, kangaroo numbers are so large that they are regarded as pests. Millions are shot each year in a cull which is approved by the government.
Adidas said it switched to using synthetic materials in its boots because of design changes rather than pressure from campaigners. - Daily Mail