Marks & Spencer to eliminate alpaca wool from future products

Marks & Spencer has announced it will stop using alpaca wool in future products following a Peta appeal.

The British retailer joins a series of fashion brands who are eliminating the material out of its products. H&M Group and Gap also recently confirmed they will no longer be using this material.

The decision follows after increasing pressure from animal rights activist organisation Peta, which recently released an exposé claiming harsh and abusive treatment of alpacas at Mallkini – the world's largest privately owned alpaca farm in Peru.

The undercover investigation leaked workers treating alpacas in a cruel and inhumane manner.

Marks & Spencer said the investigation brought to its attentions “concerns around the welfare of animals that are farmed to produce alpaca [wool]."

Peta director of corporate projects, Yvonne Taylor said: “Marks & Spencer's decision will prevent many alpacas from being tormented for their wool.”

“We urge all retailers to protect these vulnerable animals by following the company's compassionate example and introducing a ban on alpaca fibre.”