Animal welfare at our wool brands

Our love for clothing made from natural materials such as wool is clear. But what about the animal welfare of the brands we sell at Ziloen? We carefully consider this when selecting brands for our webshop, in addition to sustainability and avoiding harmful substances in the production process. In this blog, we'll give you a clear overview of everything.

Animal welfare and wool: what to look for?

There are various ways to assess animal welfare. Many brands follow certifications such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Oeko-Tex or IVN-Best, which mainly monitor the production process and, for example, guarantee that no chemical pesticides are used. However, not every certification specifically addresses animal welfare. That's why we also look at the origin of the wool, for example, to check whether mulesing is applied.

What is mulesing?
Mulesing is the removal of skin around the buttocks of sheep, often without anaesthetic, to prevent fly infestations. It can be painful and sometimes even fatal. Fortunately, mulesing is only practised in Australia. At Ziloen, you will only find mulesing-free brands that use wool from other parts of the world.

Most organic merino wool comes from South America. Mulesing is not practised there, and the wool has a very fine structure. In Germany, for example, merino sheep's wool is considered too coarse for clothing. To oversee South American farms, certifications such as KbT (Kontrollierte, biologische Tierhaltung) have been developed. KbT promotes healthy nutrition, natural resistance to parasites, and prohibits mulesing. A chemical-free washing of raw wool is also mandatory.

Below you will find an overview per brand

Alwero
Alwero uses merino wool from Poland, where the animals have ample grazing areas. No mulesing is applied. 

Christ
Christ uses lambskins as a by-product of slaughter, carefully sourced in South America. Quality is paramount, and no mulesing is applied.

Cosilana
Cosilana uses merino wool from South America, sourced from organic farms where the animals live in harmony with nature. No mulesing is applied. Certifications: KbT, Ecocert, GOTS.

Engel
Engel works with merino virgin wool and guarantees that the sheep are kept humanely and stress-free. No mulesing is applied. Certifications: KbT, IVN, GOTS.

Disana
Disana uses merino wool from Patagonia. The animals have ample grazing areas, and shearing is done calmly and without stress. No mulesing is applied. Certifications: KbT, IVN-Best, GOTS.

Hvid
Hvid uses merino wool from South America. No mulesing is applied. Certification: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100.

Joha
Joha works with ethically sourced merino virgin wool from South Africa and South America and holds the Animal Welfare certificate. No mulesing is applied. Certification: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100.

MP Denmark
MP Denmark works with wool from New Zealand and Australia. No mulesing is applied. Certification: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, BSCI. 

Popolini Iobio
Popolini Iobio uses merino wool from South America. No mulesing is applied. Certifications: KbT, Oeko-Tex, GOTS.

Reiff
Reiff works with merino virgin wool from Patagonia. Shearing is done calmly, and animals have ample grazing areas. No mulesing is applied. Certifications: KbT, GOTS, IVN-Best.

Unaduna
Unaduna uses ethically sourced merino virgin wool from South America. No mulesing is applied. Certification: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100

Last updated: November 2025