Bowing to pressure: BIG W pulls controversial product from its online store
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When enough people raise their voices, big companies can't help but take notice and make adjustments—it's the power of the people in action!
Recently, BIG W responded to a surge of customer criticism by pulling a controversial product from its online store.
The product in question? Kangaroo skin rugs, which sparked a heated debate among consumers and wildlife advocates alike.
The controversy began when BIG W listed kangaroo skin rugs on its website, which features a mix of in-store products and third-party seller items.
The skins, sourced from local kangaroos, were tanned and manufactured into rugs, with extra-large sizes priced at $122.95 and smaller versions at $73.95.
However, the decision to sell these items was met with a furious response from the public, particularly from those involved in wildlife rescue and conservation.
The move to pull the kangaroo skin rugs came after a concerted effort by wildlife carers and advocates who found the sale of such items deeply troubling.
Courtney, an Adelaide Hills Kangaroo Rescue representative, was among the vocal opponents who pressured BIG W into discontinuing the product.
She said, ‘Visually seeing a kangaroo pelt is quite distressing for a lot of people.’
BIG W responded to her and said, ‘We’ve listened to our customers and community and made the decision.’
Subsequently, a spokesperson from BIG W said, ‘In response to customer feedback and sentiment, we can confirm we have not sold any of this product and removed it from sale on Friday 26 April.’
Australia is known for its unique wildlife, and kangaroos are an iconic part of its natural heritage.
However, they are also at the centre of the world's largest commercial harvest of land-based wildlife, with an estimated 1.2 million kangaroos killed annually.
Kangaroos are not raised on farms; instead, they are hunted in their natural habitats.
While the primary market for kangaroo meat is domestic pet food, some of it is also sold for human consumption.
The Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia defended the practice, claiming that controlled shooting helps maintain kangaroo populations at sustainable levels and that utilising skins and meat prevents waste, turning them into valuable commodities.
Despite this argument, the kangaroo harvest remains a contentious issue, drawing comparisons to Japan's annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji.
The practice is sanctioned by the Australian government but has faced international criticism, leading to bans on kangaroo meat sales in places like Russia and California.
There is also mounting pressure on European countries to follow suit.
The debate extends beyond rugs to other products made from kangaroos, including leather used in sporting goods.
Major sports brands like Nike, Puma, and New Balance have phased out kangaroo leather in their soccer boots. Adidas is the only major manufacturer that continues its use, albeit at a minimal capacity.
A representative from Addidas said, ‘The share of kangaroo leather in our product material mix plays a minor role and is significantly below one per cent.’
‘We’ve been able to substitute kangaroo leather with other innovative materials in many products.’
Courtney and other wildlife advocates are now urging BIG W's parent company, Woolworths Group, to cease the sale of kangaroo meat in its stores.
She said, ‘If Woolworths took the time to look into the trade and why it's so inhumane they’d pull kangaroo products from their shelves.’
‘Kangaroos are incredibly complicated animals. They’re very social and they don’t do well by themselves.’
‘A joey will mourn the loss of its mother, and you will often see an orphan appearing very confused and scared,’ she added.
Woolworths Group has been asked if it plans to take kangaroo products off its shelves. The group has yet to respond.
This isn’t the first time Woolworths Group has been urged to pull a product from its shelves due to animal welfare-related concerns.
Recently, it has been urged to pull another product due to the industry’s alleged connection with monkey abuse. You can read more about the story here.
What are your thoughts on the sale of kangaroo products? Should retailers be more mindful of the items they stock, considering the potential impact on wildlife and public sentiment? Share your views with us in the comments below!
Recently, BIG W responded to a surge of customer criticism by pulling a controversial product from its online store.
The product in question? Kangaroo skin rugs, which sparked a heated debate among consumers and wildlife advocates alike.
The controversy began when BIG W listed kangaroo skin rugs on its website, which features a mix of in-store products and third-party seller items.
The skins, sourced from local kangaroos, were tanned and manufactured into rugs, with extra-large sizes priced at $122.95 and smaller versions at $73.95.
However, the decision to sell these items was met with a furious response from the public, particularly from those involved in wildlife rescue and conservation.
Rugs manufactured from kangaroo skins were pulled from BIG W’s online store after public backlash. Image Source: Shutterstock / structuresxx
Courtney, an Adelaide Hills Kangaroo Rescue representative, was among the vocal opponents who pressured BIG W into discontinuing the product.
She said, ‘Visually seeing a kangaroo pelt is quite distressing for a lot of people.’
BIG W responded to her and said, ‘We’ve listened to our customers and community and made the decision.’
Subsequently, a spokesperson from BIG W said, ‘In response to customer feedback and sentiment, we can confirm we have not sold any of this product and removed it from sale on Friday 26 April.’
Australia is known for its unique wildlife, and kangaroos are an iconic part of its natural heritage.
However, they are also at the centre of the world's largest commercial harvest of land-based wildlife, with an estimated 1.2 million kangaroos killed annually.
Kangaroos are not raised on farms; instead, they are hunted in their natural habitats.
While the primary market for kangaroo meat is domestic pet food, some of it is also sold for human consumption.
The Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia defended the practice, claiming that controlled shooting helps maintain kangaroo populations at sustainable levels and that utilising skins and meat prevents waste, turning them into valuable commodities.
Despite this argument, the kangaroo harvest remains a contentious issue, drawing comparisons to Japan's annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji.
The practice is sanctioned by the Australian government but has faced international criticism, leading to bans on kangaroo meat sales in places like Russia and California.
There is also mounting pressure on European countries to follow suit.
The debate extends beyond rugs to other products made from kangaroos, including leather used in sporting goods.
Major sports brands like Nike, Puma, and New Balance have phased out kangaroo leather in their soccer boots. Adidas is the only major manufacturer that continues its use, albeit at a minimal capacity.
A representative from Addidas said, ‘The share of kangaroo leather in our product material mix plays a minor role and is significantly below one per cent.’
‘We’ve been able to substitute kangaroo leather with other innovative materials in many products.’
Courtney and other wildlife advocates are now urging BIG W's parent company, Woolworths Group, to cease the sale of kangaroo meat in its stores.
She said, ‘If Woolworths took the time to look into the trade and why it's so inhumane they’d pull kangaroo products from their shelves.’
‘Kangaroos are incredibly complicated animals. They’re very social and they don’t do well by themselves.’
‘A joey will mourn the loss of its mother, and you will often see an orphan appearing very confused and scared,’ she added.
Woolworths Group has been asked if it plans to take kangaroo products off its shelves. The group has yet to respond.
This isn’t the first time Woolworths Group has been urged to pull a product from its shelves due to animal welfare-related concerns.
Recently, it has been urged to pull another product due to the industry’s alleged connection with monkey abuse. You can read more about the story here.
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