FACTS
The Wool Industry
- Produces around 2.1 million tons of greasy wool per year.
- Takes care of more than 1 billion sheep around the world maintaining high standards of animal welfare.
- Wool is produced on several million smallholder and commercial farms across the world.
- The total retail value of sales of wool products amounts to US $80 billion annually.
- In the EU alone, thousands of industrial manufacturing companies work with wool as a raw material.
- Millions of people are employed in wool production, harvesting and throughout its many processing stages.
Wool is Natural Wool is Safe Wool is Healthy
Renewable Flame resistent Breathable
Sustainable UV protection Humidity control
Biodegradable Static electricity reduction Low allergy
Low carbon impact High thermal resistance Toxic chemical absorption
Energy efficient Sound reduction
(Source: IWTO)
WOOL RUNS ON GRASS!
Lower embodied energy
A fundamental requirement in sustainable products is the capacity to limit energy use in production. Wool products use a fraction of the energy of a comparable manmade material.
Security of supply
Wool is one of the earth’s most sustainable resources; it is an annually shorn and replenished resource. The amount of wool available to supply the global textile industry is only limited by the number of sheep farmed across the world.
Lower transportation footprint
Wool is sourced at home or abroad, when imported it can be shipped easily in a high-density form, which generates a lower carbon footprint.
A long life material
Wool can last for many hundreds of years without losing its resilience or structure. This is historically exemplified in carpet, which can resist footfall in high traffic areas without losing either its appearance or its robust ability to function.
100% biodegradable
Wool is a long-life fibre, maintaining its moisture retention properties and flexibility for many years. It will then biodegrade in soil without harm to the planet and the environment, fulfilling optimum life-cycle benefits.
Low carbon impact
Significantly less energy is required in the manufacturing of wool insulation and this ensures carbon dioxide emissions are kept very low. Furthermore, wool locks up 6kg of carbon dioxide per square metre of loft insulation. Therefore wool can positively reduce the level of reenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are currently generated by the sizeable amounts of carbon dioxide used in the manufacturing processes of manmade insulation. (Source: IWTO)
BRITISH WOOL
Natural Fibre…
British Wool is a natural fibre grown on beautiful British sheep breeds in the United Kingdom. As carbon footprint becomes the yardstick for which we evaluate products, the use of British Wool, grown in the UK and requiring less processing than man-made fibres is a worthy choice.
An annually renewable and truly sustainable resource it is Mother Nature’s own SMART fibre, highly functional and perfect for multiple uses whilst being fully biodegradable without damage to our precious planet.
Natural quality…
The UK has the most sheep breeds of any country in the world – over 60 pure breeds and many cross, half and rare breeds. British sheep produce wool that is strong, resilient and durable but still soft and luxurious. It is highly regarded by the international textile industry as a superior carpet fibre and has been used historically in fine cloth for the tailoring of quality suits and apparel.
Natural Provenance…
Hainsworth has chosen to buy British Wool through the British Wool Marketing Board’s Quality Assurance Scheme. This ensures that the wool is guaranteed throughout as British Wool and therefore benefits the British farmer.
Wool Evolution… a natural beginning and a natural end…
Wool has the heritage of centuries behind it and yet its multi capable diversity continues to keep it at the forefront of product development. Hainsworth has thoughtfully selected this noble British fibre sheared from the sheep bred on the land, so that it can humbly be returned back to the earth that nurtured it without harm. (Source: BWMB)
Helping Our Farmers
Hainsworth's innovative new product – Woollen Coffins, uses all that is great about British Wool.
The Natural Legacy by Hainsworth woollen coffins are a range of environmentally friendly woollen coffins and caskets that offer a comforting and soft alternative to the traditional wood coffin. Working closely with the British Wool Marketing Board, Hainsworth supports British Farmers by buying their wool through the Quality Assurance Scheme.
Rachel Hainsworth, Sales Director, says “We are very proud to be supporting British Wool, it is at the forefront of our continuing success. We are passionate about the quality of our product and as we use 3 special fine Down type fleeces per coffin, we hope this increased demand will filter down to stronger prices being paid to the farmer”.
(Photo Credits: IWTO & David Eglin)