New Method Shows Lower
On-Farm Emissions When Biogenic Carbon Is Counted

New research published in Agricultural Systems provides a comprehensive new framework that challenges the current emissions-only approach to environmental impact.

Applying the ISO 14067:2018 standard, which specifically recognizes the difference between fossil-based and biogenic carbon, researchers re-estimated carbon footprints from six case study farms to include biogenic factors.

What they found is that when biogenic carbon is included, wool’s net emissions are significantly reduced.

Depending on a range of factors including herd demographics, climate, and the portion of manure retained in the soil, wool’s carbon intensity is reduced between 35% and 102%.

The Difference Between Biogenic and Fossil Carbon

Biogenic carbon is the carbon stored in living organisms (plants, animals, soil). Biogenic carbon is absorbed by plants during growth (photosynthesis) and by our oceans. This is Earth’s natural carbon cycle. It’s a constantly ongoing natural cycle and in addition to regulating Earth’s climate, all life on Earth relies on it.

Both sheep and their wool are part of this natural biogenic carbon cycle.

Fossil carbon, in contrast, comes from old, decomposed matter in the form of coal, oil, and gas. The best way to think of fossil carbon is of a surplus which was removed from circulation by nature tens of millions of years ago.

When coal, oil, and gas – fossil fuels – release their carbon into the atmosphere, there is no easy way for nature to deal with it. This is the carbon that’s causing climate change and the emissions we are trying to reduce.

Current eco-impact tools have been unable to distinguish between these two types of carbon.

Where to Find the Paper

Agricultural Systems is the fourth highest ranking scientific journal globally for agronomy and crop sciences. Access the full paper “Biogenic Life Cycle Assessment for Wool Production”.

Download the Media Release here.

Wool Production is Part of Nature’s Flow

Conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed for industrial processes where materials move in one direction. Wool production, in contrast, operates within natural carbon cycles.

The new research reveals that more than 50% of carbon ingested by wool sheep is returned to earth as manure, supporting soil health and carbon sequestration. Current environmental assessment models ignore these flows.

“The publication of this research is a watershed moment for the wool industry,” said Dalena White, Secretary General of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO). “For too long, wool has been assessed using methods designed for factories, not biological systems.

“This peer-reviewed research, with a methodology independently verified by the globally recognized certifications body TÜV SÜD, demonstrates that wool’s true environmental impact is far lower than is widely reported.”

A Change in the Way We See Agriculture

ISO14067:2018, explicitly recognises and encourages accounting for biogenic carbon flows, emissions, and removals, and provides guidance on how this should be addressed within a LCA context.

The standard is indicative of a change in thinking that is taking place which recognizes the fundamental difference between the natural processes of agriculture and factory production lines.

All ruminant and photosynthesis-based industries face similar challenges with current LCA approaches. This research opens pathways for more accurate assessment across all agricultural sectors.

More Case Studies to come

Three comprehensive new case studies have already been completed, using the ISO 14067 methodology in real-world farm conditions. One study examined a farm that spent over one million dollars on supplementary feed during drought years. The biogenic model predicted the farm would be sequestering carbon in the soil even during drought. The farm’s detailed soil testing records over many years validated this prediction.

Fifteen more case studies are currently planned, with more in the making.

The IWTO Green Book

This research forms a cornerstone of IWTO’s Green Book, an all-inclusive resource for wool’s environmental credentials. Due to launch at the IWTO’s 2026 Congress, the Green Book will provide brands and retailers with verified data to support product claims, combat misleading narratives, and make informed decisions about natural fibres.

Learn more about the IWTO Green Book at iwto.org/the-iwto-green-book-wools-environmental-story

The IWTO Green Book Project is generously funded by the Italian textile industry association, Confindustria Moda.

For a comprehensive overview of the Green Book Project, including details on the biogenic carbon methodology, TÜV SÜD verification, and 2025 achievements, download our IWTO-Green-Book-Briefing_2026 (PDF).

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