The fashion retailer OLYMP Bezner KG (Ludwigsburg district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany) is one of the world’s leading brands in the use of mulesing-free wool. This is confirmed by a current report from the global animal protection organization FOUR PAWS, from which OLYMP emerges as a pioneer in the industry. OLYMP is way ahead, particularly when it comes to transparency, traceability and product labeling.
As part of the study “The suffering behind the labels”, 102 international fashion companies were evaluated by FOUR PAWS – with a view to the implementation of their procurement guidelines, the transparency in communication and the provision of consumer information in online shops and specialist retailers. OLYMP impressed in all tested areas and received top marks for labeling items with fibers certified according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) – both on the product itself and in the online shop.
“We are pleased about this recognition, but we have not yet reached our goal,” emphasizes Johann Trischberger, operational managing director of OLYMP Bezner KG. “Already 98.7 percent of our wool comes from mulesing-free sources. We are working hard to achieve complete exclusion. Our commitment is intended to give consumers clear guidance and show that responsibility and fashion can go hand in hand.” OLYMP has signed a memorandum of understanding against lamb mutilation from FOUR PAWS and, together with 140 other fashion brands, is calling on the Australian wool industry to end the practice of mulesing by 2030. This is a procedure in which areas of skin on the rear of lambs are removed without sufficient anesthesia. The method, which has been heavily criticized worldwide, is incompatible with modern animal welfare standards.
For OLYMP, transparency is a central component of the corporate strategy. In the 2024 Sustainability Report, which was published in September 2025, the family business discloses its activities in accordance with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), including the data points recorded in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
In the future, OLYMP wants to consistently expand the range of more sustainable materials and transparency along the supply chain. “Our goal is to make more ecological responsibility measurable and at the same time to live our brand promise credibly,” says Johann Trischberger.