Why Wool Matters – To the Planet and our Futures

Why Wool Matters: A short documentary produced with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for the Campaign for Wool

Against a background of misleading anti wool lobbying currently orchestrated by global giants of fast fashion, the Campaign for Wool decided to engage with leading academic experts in the field of land management and carbon sequestration to demonstrate the positive pastoral contribution the grazing of ruminants, particularly sheep, makes to the continued wellbeing of the planet.

These peer reviewed findings add to already well documented research revealing wool’s unique renewable and biodegradable end of life attributes and the contribution the fibre makes to the circular economy.

• Wool is the most responsible fibre to choose for the well-being of the planet, with its eco and environmental biodegradable properties and longevity. 
• Choosing Wool is healthy for the planet, for the home and for everyone 

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The Campaign for Wool enters its 12th year of projects, events and activities to continue the education and promotion of wool and its benefits to consumers and education platforms. 

Wool is an overlooked planet-friendly fibre, and the release of a new informative film by the Campaign for Wool aims to highlight wool’s natural eco properties, including its biodegradability, along with circular economy, regenerative farming and feed management in relation to reducing carbon and methane gas emissions. 

Everyone is made aware, and reminded daily, of the unbalance we are facing of the planet with the infusion and infiltration of plastics and micro-fibres since the introduction of plastic and Nylon in 1907 and 1935 respectively. 

Since this time it has become self-evident that material introduced with the intention to help the planet and its natural resources has, in fact, upset the balance of nature. The result is a mass of plastic and micro-fibre non-biodegradable pollution sat in the oceans and landfill for hundreds, if not thousands, of years to come. Wool biodegrades naturally back into the land adding valuable nutrients and devoid of micro-fibre evidence in oceans and waterways. 

Choosing wool clothing and interior products over man-made fibres assists the biodiversity of the land on which life exists, and as an investment wool lasts longer and is healthier for the skin and the home/office environment. Even small and minor gestures can collectively make a significant difference in assisting the planet in the rebalancing of nature, if everyone were to choose wool. 

“It is abundantly clear to me that we need to make changes to the way we think about the production, use and the disposal of clothing and textiles if we are going to get anywhere near to meeting the United Nations climate change goals set for the industry. A major part of that change has to be moving from a linear system to a circular one, where textiles and clothing are produced sustainably, enjoy long use, and are made using natural materials, specifically wool, which will biodegrade naturally and quickly at the end of their useful life”. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Patron Campaign for Wool 

Ten Reasons Why Wool Matters and to Choose Wool 

• Pure wool is 100% natural, 100% renewable, 100% sustainable, 100% biodegradable, if you love the planet – use more wool! 
• It is warm but it is cool too because it adapts to the wearer – that’s why sheep are so snug and content! 
• Wool is flame retardant and will often self-extinguish. Fire-fighters like it because it produces less smoke and toxic fumes – making it a safer choice for the home. 
• Strong and long lasting – wool carpets and rugs can take lots of heavy wear and are known to look better for longer – quality always lasts! 
• Sleep well wearing wool as well as with a wool bed, pillow, duvet and blanket – scientific tests show that wool will create a sleep climate perfect for you… deeper sleep, lasting comfort and sweet dreams. 
• Wool has hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial properties – it makes the air that we breathe cleaner and better. 
• Wrap your babies in wool so they breathe easy… wool will keep them cosy and warm but not too hot as it cleverly changes to their temperature needs and is good for their skin. 
• Insulate with it, soundproof with it, wear it, walk on it, wrap things with it. The world’s oldest renewable fibre is also the most versatile and modern. 
• Sheep are amazing – they graze peacefully, grow wonderful wool, we use it to make beautiful textiles and the whole process begins again… no depletion, just sustainable and sensible. 
• Wool is smarter than any other fibre – it travels a long way on its journey from the sheep to finished product but it never loses any of its remarkable qualities and it looks and feels fabulous too. 

About The Campaign for Wool: 

The Campaign for Wool was launched in 2010 to educate consumers about the benefits of wool and help to support and grow the wool industry. Run by a coalition of industry groups convened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the Campaign works to engage consumers through exciting fashion, interiors, artisan and design lead activities centering around Wool Week each year. 

The Campaign for Wool is a global endeavour initiated by its Patron, in order to raise awareness amongst consumers about the unique, inherent natural, renewable and biodegradable benefits offered by the fibre in fashion, furnishings and everyday life. And importantly, that wool not only biodegrades in soil, adding nutrients back to the earth, but it also biodegrades in the ocean and water and therefore wool does not impact the planet with microfibre and plastic pollution. Choosing wool will help to safeguard the planet for future generations. 

The Campaign for Wool is jointly funded by some of the world’s largest woolgrower organisations. Key nation partners include the British Wool, Australian Wool Innovation/The Woolmark Company, Cape Wools South Africa and Campaign for Wool New Zealand. All have shown incredible support and contributed to the global success of His Royal Highness’s Campaign for Wool since its inception. www.campaignforwool.org