The Benefits of Wool for our Environment
A renewable natural resource
Sheep thrive on Irish soil, each year sheep produce new fleeces making it a constantly renewable process.
Biodegradable
At the end of its useful life, wool can go back into the soil where it decomposes and releases valuable nutrients into the ground. It takes a very short time to decompose, unlike synthetics where are extremely slow to degrade.
Breathable
Because wool fibres are crimped they form millions of tiny pockets of air, allowing it to absorb and release moisture, either from the atmosphere or the wearer, without compromising it’s thermal ability and making it extremely breathable and cellular for blankets.
Resilient and long-wearing
Wool fibres resist tearing and are naturally elastic. So they can move and stretch with wear and then return to their natural shape. As organic natural fibres, they “grow and live” with their wearer, improving with age. This is in contrast to most synthetics which rapidly decrease with age which, combined with their polluting decomposing properties, make most synthetics unsustainable.
Easy-Care
Whilst caring for wool involves specific instructions, the waxy coating on wool makes it naturally stain and odour resistant, reducing the amount of cleaning needed. It is also anti-static, reducing the amount of dust collected by most materials.
Safe
Wool is not known to cause allergies and is also anti-bacterial. It is also flame-retardant and carries a high level of UV protection.
Temperature Regulating
In this same way wool does this for sheep, as your body temperature rises, wool has the ability to transfer heat and moisture along every fibre and release it. In cooler temperatures, it keeps the heat in.
Carbon-Friendly
Sheep are part of the natural carbon cycle, consuming the organic carbon stored in plants and converting it to wool. Fifty per cent of the weight of wool is pure organic carbon.