ZQ Merino
Unterwegs & Environment
Sustainability Seal
To the overview- 1 % for the planet
- B Corp
- bluesign®
- BPA-free
- Climate-Neutral
- Crystal Down
- Down Codex
- Down Cycle
- Eco-dyeing
- Fair Labor Association
- Fair Wear Foundation
- Fairtrade
- Fjällräven Down Promise
- GOTS
- Green Shape
- Hemp, linen
- Made in Europe
- Made in Germany
- Modal, Tencel, Lyocell
- Mulesing free
- Naturtextil
- Open Factory
- Organic Cotton
- Organic Leather
- PFC free
- Recycling
- Resoleable
- Responsible Down Standard
- terracare®
- Vegan
- ZQ Merino
What is ZQ Merino?
Animal welfare for merino wool production
Merino wool is also popular in the outdoor industry due to its numerous positive properties. Unfortunately the animal-abusing "Mulesing" is often mentioned in the same breath. But what exactly is that?
Mulesing is a controversial but widespread "operative treatment", in which the ranchers force live sheep onto their backs and carve huge chunks of skin away from the animals’ backsides. This is to protect the sheep (especially Merino sheep which have woolly wrinkles and folds in their skin) from flystrike.

The ZQ certificate

The ZQ certificate has been awarded by the non-profit organization New Zealand Merino Company since 2005. It ensures compliance with the highest international standards on animal welfare, environmental care and social sustainability - along the entire production chain. The ZQ certificate guarantees mulesing does not occur. The ZQ accreditation programme requires growers to take account of their animals five basic freedoms: Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition, provision of appropriate comfort and shelter, prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasites, freedom from distress and ability to display normal patterns of behavior. In addition, the certificate guarantees the use of merino fibre of the very highest quality and performance. ZQ Merino fibre is traceable throughout the supply chain - right back to the farm in New Zealand where the merino wool was sourced.
Control
All ZQ Merino accredited farms are audited every 3-5 years. In addition a random selection are audited annually to ensure that the integrity of the programme is maintained. Some of these audits are conducted by a veterinarian focusing specifically on the animal welfare and health components of the programme.Conclusion
With its strict requirements and continuous controls the ZQ certificate is reliable - especially concerning animal welfare. The consumer can be sure that the ZQ-certified product is mulesing-free and that the sheep has been treated well - in an ethically correct way.ZQ Merino-Produkte
Nach- haltigkeits- label
- 1 % for the planet
- B Corp
- bluesign®
- BPA-free
- Climate-Neutral
- Crystal Down
- Down Codex
- Down Cycle
- Eco-dyeing
- Fair Labor Association
- Fair Wear Foundation
- Fairtrade
- Fjällräven Down Promise
- GOTS
- Green Shape
- Hemp, linen
- Made in Europe
- Made in Germany
- Modal, Tencel, Lyocell
- Mulesing free
- Naturtextil
- Open Factory
- Organic Cotton
- Organic Leather
- PFC free
- Recycling
- Resoleable
- Responsible Down Standard
- terracare®
- Vegan
- ZQ Merino