Issues in the alpaca wool supply chain
Alpaca wool is not only cruel, but a material which contributes to the climate crisis.
Alpacas are sensitive, feeling beings.
They hate to be alone, and some have even died of loneliness.
Alpacas are intelligent, with long-term memories. Those who mistreat them are not soon forgotten.
Despite how it’s marketed, alpaca wool comes from cruelty.
Investigations into alpaca wool production in Peru, the top producer of alpaca fibre worldwide, have shown these gentle creatures vomiting in pain and shrieking in terror.
Alpacas are tied down when they are shorn. There are recordings of alpacas being stitched up without any pain relief after being cut with shears.
Image: Alpaca cries out as they are tied down for shearing
/ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
So often unknown, alpaca wool comes from a slaughter industry. When these animals are no longer producing high quality wool, they are killed.
The alpaca wool industry impacts humans too.
Hurting non-humans hurts humans.
Many of us feel a sense of love and appreciation for animals, and would struggle and feel immense turmoil if we were made to hurt or kill an alpaca. Yet, we pay for wool that means someone must do these exact things on our behalf.
Studies show that working in an abattoir has severe negative health impacts, with psychological trauma, stress and suffering stemming from inflicting pain on animals.
Data shows alpaca wool to be the very harmful to the environment when considering the climate impact tied to its production.
The massive amount of alpacas grazing the land in Peru, eating the grass, passing gas and producing excrement has a high impact on the planet. Methane emissions contribute greatly to global warming.
Ecological destruction and violence against animals should not be a part of any fashion supply chain.
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