WOOL and YOU!!!!

Sustainability The product and

the consumer

Ecological Footprint The environment

What is it? The source and

the producer

“Pleased to

meet you”

Wool is a

coarse,

natural,

biodegradable

fibre

produced by

sheep

.

What is wool

and where

does it come

from?

Melissa Henry, Wool producer,

Boorowa, NSW

Some of

the

products

made from

my wool…

Carpets

blankets Medical dressings

Doonas and pillows

Jackets and coats

furnishings

Other fashion

filters

Wool is Sustainable because it…

it insulates,

keeping you

both warm

and cool

is mould

free, so it

is mostly

non-

allergenic

absorbs oil

is fire

resistant

is water

resistant regulates

temperature

can be

made into

many

different

things

Wool is sustainable….

because it absorbs oil

Mario Plomer, managing director of Tecnomeccanica Biellese, "We realised that wool was not only absorbing 10 times its weight in oil, but the other important feature is that when you squeeze this wool, this wool is relieving the oil and is ready again to absorb the same quantity for many times," he said.

Wool is Sustainable…

. Wool provides thermal protection to

mammals (that’s us too!) It gives warmth, can keep you cool and is comfy.

It can also absorb a large quantity of moisture without feeling

wet. Wool is used to insulate housing and buildings.

Wool is Sustainable… Wool is naturally flame resistant. It burns slowly

and is easy to extinguish

In a major fire, wool carpets contribute much less in terms

of smoke and toxic gas formations than most other

materials.

Wool is Sustainable Wool is 100% natural and re-

newable.

Wool is a re-newable resource

because it grows itself in less

than a year.

Wool is bio-degradable

because it is made of keratin as

is human hair.

Wool is reusable. You can

unravel a jumper, re-knit it and

create a new one.

I’m making a

new jumper

with old wool

I’m very

warm with

a wool

coat.

Wool production and its impact on

the environment

The land

Native plant

life Animals and

livestock

Changing

climate

ecological footprint

How do the farmers

manage the impact?

Wool producers

manage soil as it

can be acid,

saline and easily

eroded

Retain areas

of native bushland

Use appropriate

fertilisers

Plant perennial pastures,

Retain deep-rooted trees

What about

waste

management?

When cleaning wool a lot of harmful waste is

created but this waste can be used for fertilisers

And the grease (lanolin) is used in moisturisers.

When dying, and shrink-proofing wool, harmful

Impact can occur. Wool processors are using improved

techniques to avoid this

Climate Change

A big impact on the production of wool Producers are continually working with researchers to

Find species that are adaptable to a variable climate

From this ..

To this..

Makes you

think, eh?

Resources

•Flickr.com: Creative commons

•St Michael’s school grounds

•Melissa Henry, wool producer

of Quebon Livestock Boorowa

NSW •http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2

011/s3214704.htm

•Wikipedia

•The story of wool in Australia, Jill Griffiths and Deborah King