AWI Launches Alliance to Promote 'Green' Wool

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) launched the Wool Carbon Alliance (WCA) to promote the environmental advantages of wool. The group of Australian and international wool industry representatives will work together to market the natural benefits of wool and how it can help reduce global warming.

The European Commission reported that a household can cut its CO2 emissions by up to 300 kilo grams a year and energy bills by 5 percent to 10 percent by reducing heating by one degree Celsius. The WCA added that research suggests a household can significantly reduce its carbon emissions by using wool for insulation, clothing, carpets, bedding and upholstery.

The chairman of the new alliance and AWI board member Chick Olsson said, "Ours is an ambitious plan to let the world know just how versatile our great natural fiber is. It is wool's time to help the planet and for us to sell more wool in the process."

According to the alliance, wool is a planet-friendly fiber made from the combination of sunlight, water and grass. It contains up to 50 percent carbon, which is stored in a stable form, is renewable, has the ability to biodegrade without harm to the environment and can be recycled. Furthermore, the alliance said it takes significantly less energy to produce wool products than man-made fiber products, and this ensures CO2 emissions are kept very low.

The WCA and AWI are working with the Australian government to research and promote the many roles the fiber can play in a future carbon economy on a global scale.