People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called off its international campaign against Benetton now that the multinational retailer has offered its backing to an agreement between the Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) and PETA, which has led to a new brand of wool from farmers who are part of a structured plan to end mulesing and live exports. In its letter to the AWGA, Benetton agreed to buy "ethical," nonmulesed wool and urged "the entire Australian wool industry" to adopt the agreement. Benetton has more than 5,000 stores and outlets in 120 countries and 2004 sales totaling more than $2.2 billion.

The new, more humane wool brand established by the plan will be available to retailers throughout the world and is already being requested by retailers that do not want to support cruelty to animals.

Benetton has joined the ranks of more than a dozen major retailers, including Ann Taylor, Gap Inc., Nordstrom, H&M, Eddie Bauer, Jones Apparel, Lands' End, L.L. Bean, and Liz Claiborne, that support the agreement made between PETA and the AWGA, sending a clear message to Australian farmers that there's money to be made by adopting animal welfare reforms.

Please thank Benetton officials for listening to their hearts and their customers and for taking advantage of this new wool brand rather than continuing to purchase wool from farmers who mutilate lambs and ship sheep to gruesome deaths overseas:

Luciano Benetton, Chair
Benetton Group
Villa Minelli
31050 Ponzano Veneto
Treviso
Italy
39 0422 969501 (fax)
info@benetton.it

Check out PETA's guide to letter-writing.