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Fibres, Yarns, Fabrics

Woolmark Launches Sustainable Recycled Wool Brand On 60th Anniversary

• By  Textile Excellence
• July 08, 2024

Woolmark which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, launched Recycled Wool sub-brand taking a significant step towards a more sustainable textile industry. Woolmark is the ultimate authority of certifying quality wool products globally. Commemorating the milestone, Woolmark introduces a new Recycled Wool specification and for the first time the iconic mark will be applicable to recycled fibre.

Since 1964, the Woolmark Logo has certified over five billion wool and wool care products, symbolising excellence and authenticity. The Woolmark Certification Program, operated globally by The Woolmark Company, is the gold standard for wool quality, providing consumers with assurance of premium fibre content.

The Recycled Wool sub-brand is launched under a new RW-1 Specification which will make way for a more sustainable textile industry. "Wool is the most recycled apparel fibre globally," said John Roberts, Managing Director of The Woolmark Company. "Our new Recycled Wool mark supports the shift from a linear to a circular production model, reducing waste and pollution."

The Recycled Wool specification  ensures products contain at least 20% recycled wool, whilst also meeting The Woolmark Certification Program’s stringent quality standards. This initiative aligns with the industry's regulatory pressures to adopt more sustainable practices. Products can feature recycled wool from both pre-consumer sources, such as fabric cutting waste, and post-consumer sources, like garments, certified by standards such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Recycled Claim Standard (RCS).

The Recycled Wool sub-brand reinforces Woolmark's commitment to advancing a more circular industry. By supporting the development of long-lasting, quality-assured, natural products using recycled fibres Woolmark is at the forefront of promoting solutions that minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

"Wool accounts for only 1% of the apparel fibre market," said John Roberts, "Creating a sub-brand to promote the reuse and repurposing of this remarkable fibre will help advance wool use in new categories and keep this rare fibre in circulation for longer."

Wool is the most recycled apparel fibre globally. Our new Recycled Wool mark supports the shift from a linear to a circular production model, reducing waste and pollution." - John Roberts, Managing Director, The Woolmark Company.