Animals as Stakeholders in the Fashion Industry: Reframing Corporate Social Responsibility

Every year the fashion industry raises more than 5 billion animals for its own purposes. At the same time, public interest in their health and welfare is steadily growing, specially among consumers. In response to these concerns, companies increasingly embed animal welfare commitments within their Corporate Social Responsibility programs and codes of conduct. After examining the legal relevance of these instruments, this talk will explore what happens when companies fail to comply with the principles, rules, and duties set out in their own documents. On the one hand, the analysis will focus on how such practices may be commercially unfair and misleading, aiming to understand how the position of animals can be linked to— and intertwined with— the interests and rights of consumers. On the other hand, it investigates the potential liability faced by fashion companies for irresponsible behaviors, assessing both the legal grounds for such liability and the broader regulatory consequences.