Woolmark+ Announce Forward – Thinking Nature Positive Roadmap

On 3rd September 2024, Woolmark, the long-established global authority on wool, announced the launch of Woolmark+, a vision designed to unite woolgrowers, supply chain and brands in ensuring a sustainable future for the wool industry. This emerges at a pivotal moment for the global fashion industry, which faces increasing demands to adopt sustainable practices amid regulatory and consumer pressure.

Woolmark+ aims to accelerate low-impact production, promote circularity and enhance animal wellbeing and woolgrower livelihoods. The roadmap sets out 13, practical initiatives intended to empower nature regeneration, reduce carbon emissions and optimise productivity. This approach not only supports woolgrowers in meeting their business objectives but also aligns with the increasing commitment from brands to mitigate Scope 3 emissions and bolster supply chain sustainability.

At its core, Woolmark+ focuses on supporting the livelihoods of woolgrowers in their role as stewards of nature. Through research, training, and the development of new tools and investment avenues, the initiatives help woolgrowers to enhance climate resilience, reduce carbon emissions, foster biodiversity, and progress animal wellbeing. The Carbon Storage Partnership is just one example of how Woolmark is collaboratively investing to identify effective and appropriate techniques for woolgrowers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while building biodiversity and improving productivity. The project is due to finish 2025; on-farm modelling is under way and case studies for various regional zones have been completed.

Highlights from the Woolmark+ Initiatives include:

– Carbon Insetting: A groundbreaking program to create a wool-insetting market, linking woolgrowers with global brands aiming to meet their emissions targets. 

– Methane Reduction: Nine R&D projects to reduce emissions from sheep using feed additives. Early results include a 19% reduction using Agolin, and a 50% reduction with Asparagopsis (seaweed).

– Nature Positive Specification: Development of on-farm environmental metrics to enable brands and woolgrowers to make defensible claims. 

– Nature Positive Impact Program: Connecting investors with leading institutions working on projects that reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, promote climate resilience and enable circularity.

– Woolmark Recycled: New sub-brand highlighting wool as the industry’s most recycled fibre 

John Roberts, Managing Director, The Woolmark Company said: “With more than 60 years of experience, Woolmark understands the nuances of the textile industry and is dedicated to driving its success by aligning economic prosperity with positive ecological and social impact.

“Woolgrowers in Australia are stewards of over 65 million hectares of land, and they can play a critical role in the global transition to a low-emission, nature positive market. Their commitment to nature needs to be well recognised and supported to demonstrate the wool industry’s role in supporting and enhancing biodiversity, beyond net zero targets.”

For further information and to download the Woolmark+ roadmap, visit www.woolmark.com/woolmarkplus