Wool and United Nations
sustainable development goals

Wool is a 100% renewable resource, grown by the simple blend of sunshine, fresh air, grass and water.

The Woolmark Company works with industry partners - from early-stage processors through to end garment makers - to adopt innovative processes and technologies to ensure best practice across the supply chain. This includes industrial processing innovations and more sustainable processes for dyeing and finishing garments.

A wool fibre can be bent up to 20,000 times before breaking. This makes wool garments highly durable, allowing them to retain their as-new look and feel. A Global Wardrobe Study also shoes wool garments are the longest-kept in the wardrobe.

Wool garments are easy to care for. The fibre is naturally resistant to stains, odours and creases, meaning you don’t have to wash wool clothing as often as clothes made from other fibres, saving you time and money on your energy and water bills.

Wool fibres are 100% biodegradable in both land and marine environments, offering a less impactful solution and not contributing to microplastic pollution.

The Woolmark Company provides valuable resources and workshops to run projects dedicated to environmental health, including improving soil quality and enhancing biodiversity. By providing woolgrowers with better options to improve their soil nutrition, producers will be able to make better use of previously unproductive land through holistic management and regenerative agriculture.

The Woolmark Company invests in research into more effective ways to manage water and nutrient resources on wool- growing properties. Water allocations are in place to prevent over usage and improve land management.

By working directly with Australia’s 60,000+ woolgrowers, The Woolmark Company is able to promote responsible and sustainable farming practices and build consumer trust by connecting woolgrower responsibility to a quality end product.

Australian woolgrowers work to ensure their sheep are cared for in a way that meets these Five Welfare Domains and constantly look for improvements to be included in their management practices. The Five Domains are defined as Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behaviour and Mental State.

Australian woolgrowers have been proactive in collaborating with researchers and industry to protect Australian sheep against this condition. To date, Australian woolgrowers, via The Woolmark Company’s parent body, have invested AU$41.6 million to combat flystrike.

The Woolmark Company’s research and development arm works to better the lives of Australian shearers and wool handlers by providing free training for novice, improver and advanced shearers and wool handlers through our regional coaching program. Since 2015, we have facilitated close to 11,000 shearer and wool handler training days to 43,000 people, delivered through The Woolmark Company-funded programs.