Sportswear brand Puma along with Calvin Klein and Marks & Spencer has committed to ban mulesed wool by 2025. Mulesing is a controversial breech modification technique through which strips of wool-bearing skin are cut from sheep to prevent parasitic infection.

Animal welfare organisation Four Paws has congratulated Puma on its decision. The organization recently published a list of 38 leading apparel brands that have committed to ban mulesing within their supply chains. The list includes brands like Patagonia, Orvotex, Max Mara and Escada.

Proposals to outlaw mulesing were put forward late last year in the Australian state of New South Wales, though an inquiry heard that it was not the right way forward after advocates of the method fought for its continued use.

Amongst those that have criticized mulesing are animal rights groups such as Four Paws, which argues that more humane methods could be introduced to make the transition from mulesing more manageable.