Animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has taken legal action against shoe specialist Ugg over its “misleading” claims about the use of animal products in its shoes.
PETA said it had sent the US company a cease-and-desist letter asking Ugg to remove certain statements from its website and marketing materials. The animal rights group has set a deadline of December 1 before it will file a complaint with federal authorities.
PETA accuses Ugg of “humane washing”.
In the letter, PETA said Ugg’s claim on its website that it never accepts skins from animals “that have been raised or slaughtered inhumanely” is not true because the company sources by-products from the meat industry, evidence of animal cruelty according to PETA.
In addition, there was an attempt to break Ugg’s connection to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS); a certification that came under fire from PETA after a series of revelations about farms that sold “responsible” down but ignored animal welfare.
“PETA investigations have repeatedly highlighted the cruelty in the wool, down and leather industries, yet Ugg appears to be trying to wash its hands of the suffering of its products,” PETA’s deputy executive director Tracy Reiman commented in a statement Explanation.
“PETA calls on Ugg to stop misleading the public with misleading marketing claims and urges consumers not to fall for humane washing tactics. The only humane option is vegan,” Reiman added.
This translated article originally appeared on FashionUnited.uk.