One of the most difficult challenges for the global textile and fashion industries is to satisfy their customers by providing high-quality clothing while minimising environmental impacts, such as waste and pollution. This necessitates a shift in the business models of various industries from linear to circular.
Wool, as a renewable and biodegradable fibre, can be renewed and recycled, making it the best natural fibre for the circular economy. It is only because of this natural fibre that companies can quickly enter the production of circular products. Sheep live on grasslands, which are not used for food production, and many woolgrowers promote biodiversity through the protection of riparian vegetation and revegetation.
What is Circularity?
A circular economy is a model of production and consumption primarily focused on reducing waste and environmental pollution by reusing and recycling all the existing materials and products for a long time. The European Union has spearheaded the global push toward a new economy based on circularity.
The concept of such an economy aims to address global environmental issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, waste, and pollution by prioritising the design-based implementation of the model’s three guiding principles. The three principles required for the transition to this economy are:
- Elimination of pollution and waste
- Circulating materials and products
- Natural regeneration
How Does Wool Fit Into This Economy?
Textile industries in Australia are transitioning to circularity. The sustainable development institute stated in its report that 100 billion garments are produced globally every year. 33% are destined for landfills within the first year after purchase, and only 1% of the garments are reused. Considering environmental concerns, wool is the best fit for the circular economy in the following ways.
1. Source of Renewable Fibre
Sheep produce new fleece each year, and wool is a renewable fibre. This is supported by the fact that it is grown with water, grass, fresh air, and sunlight. Non-renewable fossil fuels and petrochemicals, on the other hand, are responsible for the production of synthetic fibres that may harm the environment.
2. Phase of Product Use
- Wool can be stored for an extended period. The number of times a garment can be worn is the most important factor in determining its environmental impact. Wool, a natural circular fibre, can be used for longer.
- Wool saves energy. Many consumers do not wash wool clothes regularly because wool repels stains and wrinkles better than other fibres, saving significant energy and the most valuable resource, water.
- There are multiple ways to reuse wool. The specialty of the wool industry is highlighted by its recycling nature by converting old worn-out garments into new wool products.
Reuse
Wool garments can be reused for a long time because wool is the most recycled fibre.
Reprocessing in a Closed Loop
This entails deconstructing high-value wool garments to spin new yarns and create high-quality wool and textile products. Wool is the most eco-friendly fibre on the planet.
Reprocessing in an Open Loop
This is essentially ‘cascading,’ in which wool products are disassembled and fabricated into cost-effective non-woven products for insulating material, padding, interior decoration, and many more.
3. Phase of Product Disposal
Wool, like human hair, is made up of a protein called keratin. When wool decomposes, it returns valuable nutrients to the soil, making it an excellent fertiliser. On the contrary, because synthetic fibres are non-biodegradable, they accumulate in landfills and contribute to the accumulation of microplastics.
In Conclusion
Product circularity has been identified as a solution to meet the growing needs of new trends. And what could be better than things being reused? Reuse will result in a circular economy and address the serious environmental issues of waste, pollution, and non-biodegradable products.