Key to Woolmark+ are 13 initiatives targeting low-impact production, circularity, animal welfare, and improved livelihoods for woolgrowers, in response to the increasing demand for greener practices within the fashion industry.
These initiatives are crafted to help stakeholders enhance biodiversity, reduce emissions, and optimise productivity, driving meaningful progress toward their sustainability goals.
“Starting at the farm, we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient future for wool by championing initiatives that span the entire value chain, including eliminating chemicals of concern and investing in circularity,” said Woolmark.
Woolmark+ is building on initiatives that are already underway such as methane emissions reduction in livestock, carbon storage on wool farms, enhanced sheep productivity and profitability, Woolmark quality assurance programme, enhancing ewe and lamb wellbeing, new environmentally friendly pest and disease management solutions and supporting woolgrowers to manage flystrike.
New initiatives of Woolmark+ include:
- Insetting programme: This initiative will establish the
foundation for a wool insetting market, linking woolgrowers with
global brands aiming to meet their emission targets through on-farm,
nature-based solutions. - Methane emissions reduction in livestock: Comprising nine
research and development projects, this programme focuses on
identifying effective strategies to reduce methane emissions
from grazing sheep. Early results include a 19% average
methane reduction and a 27% productivity increase in grazing
sheep consuming Agolin, and a 50% methane reduction when
consuming Asparagopsis. - Nature-positive farming specification: Developed in consultation
with woolgrowers and industry partners to provide credible
measures of on-farm environmental performance and enable
brands to make defensible claims. Building on a detailed ecological
assessment of 130 wool farms, this study has identified a set of
core metrics that can cost-effectively verify on-farm performance. A
pilot project will look at operationalising these metrics. - Nature positive impact programme: This programme will connect
investors with research, development, and conservation projects
that reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, and promote climate
resilience and enable circularity. - Woolmark recycled: A new Recycled sub-brand has been added
to the Woolmark Certification programme to encourage more quality
assured, recycled wool products and support wool’s position as the
most recycled apparel fibre.
The introduction of Woolmark Recycled under the certification programme hopes to encourage more use of recycled wool, reinforcing wool's position as the most recycled apparel fibre globally. Woolmark+ aims to not only support woolgrowers' business objectives but also align with the broader industry shift towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable fashion practices.
By fostering collaboration among key stakeholders, Woolmark+ aims to propel the wool industry towards a future of enhanced environmental responsibility and economic resilience.
