The wool industry, despite its long-standing tradition and the natural benefits of wool as a fiber, faces significant environmental challenges. In recent years, synthetic fibers have been touted as more sustainable alternatives due to their lower cost and perceived environmental impact. However, this perception is misleading. Wool is an amazing fiber—naturally biodegradable, antimicrobial, and an excellent thermoregulator, making it ideal for various climates and conditions. Unlike synthetics, wool does not contribute to microplastic pollution and, when managed sustainably, it can have a significantly lower environmental footprint.
Wool is also one of the few fibers that can be recycled multiple times without losing its quality. Despite these benefits, the wool industry must continue evolving to meet modern sustainability standards and ensure its place as a leading eco-friendly material. This is where Woolmark+ steps in, offering a comprehensive roadmap to make wool even better for the environment and those who produce it.
What is Woolmark+?
Woolmark+ is more than just a program; it is a commitment to accelerating low-impact production, promoting circularity, and enhancing animal welfare and woolgrower livelihoods. This forward-thinking roadmap outlines 13 practical initiatives designed to empower nature regeneration, reduce carbon emissions, and optimize productivity. By supporting woolgrowers in meeting their business objectives, Woolmark+ also aligns with the growing demand from brands to mitigate Scope 3 emissions and strengthen supply chain sustainability.
Key Initiatives of Woolmark+
Woolmark+ introduces several groundbreaking initiatives, each aimed at fostering a sustainable and nature-positive wool industry:
- Insetting Program: This pioneering initiative lays the groundwork for a wool insetting market, connecting woolgrowers with global brands striving to meet their emission targets through on-farm, nature-based solutions.
- Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock: Comprising nine research and development projects, this program focuses on effective strategies to reduce methane emissions from grazing sheep. Early results are promising, with a 19% average methane reduction and a 27% productivity increase in sheep consuming Agolin, and an impressive 50% methane reduction with the consumption of Asparagopsis.
- Nature Positive Farming Specification: Developed in collaboration with woolgrowers and industry partners, this specification provides credible measures of on-farm environmental performance, enabling brands to make defensible claims. A pilot project is set to operationalize these metrics, building on detailed ecological assessments of 130 wool farms.
- Nature Positive Impact Program: This program links investors with research, development, and conservation projects that aim to reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, promote climate resilience, and foster circularity within the wool industry.
- Woolmark Recycled: As part of the Woolmark Certification program, a new Recycled sub-brand has been introduced to encourage the production of quality-assured, recycled wool products, reinforcing wool’s position as the most recycled apparel fiber.
Beyond Net Zero: Embracing Nature Positive
Woolmark+ moves beyond the concept of net zero, targeting a nature-positive future. By avoiding “carbon tunnel vision,” the initiative emphasizes the co-benefits of wool-growing for both nature and livelihoods.
Nature positive is defined as halting and reversing nature loss by 2030, with restoration efforts optimized for carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery, and livelihood benefits.
“With more than 60 years of experience, Woolmark understands the nuances of the textile industry and is dedicated to driving its success by aligning economic prosperity with positive ecological and social impact,” explained John Roberts, Managing Director of The Woolmark Company. “Woolgrowers in Australia are stewards of over 65 million hectares of land, and they can play a critical role in the global transition to a low-emission, nature-positive market. Their commitment to nature needs to be well recognized and supported to demonstrate the wool industry’s role in supporting and enhancing biodiversity, beyond net zero targets.”
Designed with Woolgrowers, for the Benefit of All
At its heart, Woolmark+ is about supporting the livelihoods of woolgrowers, who are stewards of nature. Through research, training, and the development of new tools and investment avenues, the initiatives help woolgrowers enhance climate resilience, reduce carbon emissions, foster biodiversity, and improve animal well-being. The Carbon Storage Partnership, for example, is a collaborative effort to identify effective techniques for woolgrowers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building biodiversity and productivity. The project is set to conclude in 2025, with on-farm modeling underway and case studies for various regional zones completed.
In addition to environmental stewardship, Woolmark+ promotes a holistic, nature-positive approach by developing supply chain programs that advance circularity while ensuring continued demand for wool.
Addressing the Mulesing Issue
Several initiatives within Woolmark+ focus on ensuring a thriving flock, including addressing the issue of flystrike. Through a combination of research and education projects, Woolmark+ supports woolgrowers in implementing best practices for lambing and reducing reliance on mulesing. Woolmark+ also provides a framework to help woolgrowers transition away from mulesing. While Woolmark is not a legislative body and cannot enforce changes around mulesing, it is committed to highlighting alternative pathways and investing in research to find viable solutions.
Woolmark+ represents a bold step forward for the wool industry, offering a comprehensive roadmap to ensure a sustainable, nature-positive future.
By focusing on low-impact production, circularity, and animal wellbeing, Woolmark+ not only supports woolgrowers but also aligns with the increasing demands of consumers and brands for sustainable fashion. As the industry looks beyond net zero, Woolmark+ positions wool as a key player in the global transition towards a nature-positive market.
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