After 50 years of advocacy: All mink farms in Sweden to close down
Sweden’s fur farming industry is coming to a definitive end as every mink farm in the country has applied for government-funded decommissioning grants. Project 1882 celebrates the development as a historic victory for animals and the result of decades of determined advocacy.
In autumn 2023, the Swedish government announced a financial support package for mink farms that agreed to cease operations. It is now confirmed that all remaining farms have applied for the financial support. Most are believed to already be empty, marking the end of mink breeding in wire cages in Sweden. All cages need to be empty by June 30, 2025, for the farms to be eligible for the government grants.
− We have monitored the situation closely, and our assessment is that no farms will remain by the summer. This is a landmark win for animal’s rights, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.
For more than 50 years, Project 1882 has campaigned to end fur farming in Sweden. The organization also played a key role in the European Citizens’ Initiative Fur Free Europe, which gathered over 1.5 million signatures in support of an EU-wide ban. While celebrating this milestone, Project 1882 emphasizes that the next step must be a formal legislative ban on fur farming. The Swedish government committed to launching an inquiry alongside the support package, which is now underway, with a deadline in February 2026.
− Thanks to the tireless efforts of passionate animal advocates, we are finally seeing the end of fur farming in Sweden – it's truly remarkable. Now, I hope we can secure a comprehensive legal ban and that the government will continue pushing for a ban at the EU level, says Benny Andersson.
We make a difference
Project 1882 strives for a world where every life matters. By supporting our work, you help make that vision become a reality.
