Jeannette Cook | Author | IWTO

About Jeannette Cook

Jeannette Cook is the Communications Manager for the International Wool Textile Organisation. She’s passionate about sharing wool’s remarkable story: how it regulates body temperature, naturally resists odours, and works for everything from cozy sweaters to high-performance activewear, all while being renewable and biodegradable. Based in Brussels, she enjoys the challenge of coordinating communications across time zones and cultures, whether she's working with sheep farmers in Australia or fashion brands in Europe. When not immersed in wool industry trends, you might find her on a yoga mat or exploring Belgium's excellent coffee scene. Have a question about wool or the wool industry? Contact Jeannette through IWTO at iwto@iwto.org.

Health for Planet and for People at the 90th IWTO Congress

As companies and consumers worldwide strive to become healthier and more sustainable, research shows that the humble wool fibre has a clear role to play. Just how that can happen will be the focus of two separate sessions at the upcoming IWTO Congress. Wool for Planet Traceability. Transparency. Regenerative farming and carbon sequestration. The contemporary woolgrower is very much at the forefront of the leading challenges of the day and has a pivotal place in the transition from the linear to the circular economy. The cultivation of land remains of vital importance to us all and is fundamental to the continued health of the planet. The annual Congress of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) gives wool sustainability centre stage on Tuesday, 18 May with a panel of experts from farm to fashion: Dave Maslen, The New Zealand Merino Company In 2007, NZM created the ZQ on-farm standard to

By Jeannette Cook|2024-03-13T09:27:21+01:00April 16th, 2021|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

2030 Strategy and Generation Z Headline the IWTO Congress

Let's Talk Wool The annual Congress of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) is a highlight of the global wool textile industry calendar. Undeterred by Covid restrictions, for 2021 IWTO hosts a fully digital series of presentations, panel discussions and chat rooms, held over the course of five days in order to span the world’s time zones. From what’s driving wool sustainability to the latest market statistics, the programme features the leading topics of the day, with insights and analysis from industry professionals and experts. The World’s Premium Sustainable Fibre The Congress kicks off on Monday, 17 May with two very special speakers presenting on two key visions for wool. First, Scott Williams, who facilitated the Woolgrower Consultation Group for the Wool 2030 Strategy that was published in Australia this past December, will present on the content and implementation of this new 10-year plan to position Australian wool as

By Jeannette Cook|2025-05-19T10:44:31+02:00April 8th, 2021|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

5 Wool Takeaways from the Digital Trade Fairs

Milano Unica, digitised as e-MilanoUnica Connect, gathered some of the biggest names of Italy and Europe and beyond on its digital platforms with 225 companies altogether. These included the Japan and Korea Observatories. Idea Biella, the specialist suitings area, could be said to represent the most upmarket collections of menswear fabrics, with particularly strong collections from Italy and the UK. Meanwhile, summer wool made its presence felt at Premiere Vision. PV’s customary analysis and trend information made much of eco attitudes, including natural plant or wool based materials. As with MU, the quest for less harmful finishing and enhancements was also notable. Digital shows keep the ball rolling towards wool By Janet Prescott Covid once again kept trade fairs in the realm of the digital. Below are our top five takeaways from Milano Unica and Premiere Vision. 1. The demise of the suit is greatly exaggerated As far as wool

By Jeannette Cook|2021-03-31T09:12:06+02:00March 26th, 2021|News|Comments Off

Natural Fibres are Natural Partners for Responsible Fibre Consumption

Natural fibres such as cotton and wool offer many solutions to the world’s current environmental challenges, but risk being misrepresented by sustainability ratings, the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) told the representatives of the cotton industry at last week’s Bremen Cotton Conference. More than 450 participants from 32 countries attended the conference, which brings together cotton and other textile specialists from around the world. As part of the popular panel for Responsible Fibre Production, chaired by Cotton Incorporated Senior Vice President Mark Messura, IWTO Secretary General Dalena White cautioned attendees that, under current ratings systems, products made from wool and cotton are at significant risk of being rated poorly compared to synthetics. The result of a rating scheme that doesn’t reward the attributes of natural raw materials and doesn’t penalise key environmental impacts of fossil fuel-based raw materials will be falling demand for wool and cotton as brand purchasing

By Jeannette Cook|2021-03-26T13:15:26+01:00March 25th, 2021|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

Covid Transforms Europe’s Trade Shows

Covid-19 transformed Europe's trade shows. After an upbeat start in January, by mid-year they were either fully digital or hybrid. Here, fabric & yarns expert Janet Prescott shares her insights into the wool trade in this most unexpected of years. A Digital Transformation for European Trade From Pitti Connect to Première Vision, Milano Unica and Filo, efforts to stage exhibitions during the pandemic, whether completely digital or hybrid, forced full-speed acceleration of e-commerce. Sometimes barely profitable due to reduced footfall, they worked. Online visits to virtual showrooms led to contacts and real sampling enlivened by new designs. Growing usage of social media for information and contact down the supply-chain proved game-changing. Wool made its presence felt throughout as a sustainable and technical fibre. The Woolmark Company, participating at Pitti Uomo, joined the first video of Pitti Connect Conversation in its capacity as technical partner to ultrachic Luna Rossa yachting.

By Jeannette Cook|2025-05-19T10:35:42+02:00November 12th, 2020|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

Cotton-Based Substitute for Plastic Wins Award

A cotton-based substitute for plastic wins natural fibres award IWTO congratulates Dr. Noureddine Abidi, Professor and Director, Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, at Texas Tech University, for winning the 2020 Discover Natural Fibre Innovation Award. The Discover Natural Fibres Initiative - DNFI - announced the winner of the annual award today, 30 Ocotber. In his winning submission, Dr Abidi created a process which transforms low-quality cotton fibre into a gel that can be turned into bioproducts, including bio-plastic films. The process that uses a plant-based substitute is an inexpensive alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Moreover, the cotton-based bio-plastic is biodegradable in soil, yet stable in household conditions. Products made from this bio-plastic film would have properties similar to those of plastics currently in common use – but with several environmental benefits. Cotton-based innovation shows how natural fibres offer eco-friendly options to petroleum-based synthetics Commerical options for the cotton-gel/bio-plastic process include

By Jeannette Cook|2020-10-30T21:50:38+01:00October 30th, 2020|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

Score Natural Fibres Fairly – IWTO Responds to Green Claims Consultation

Every type of fiber should receive an equitable environmental assessment. In order to accomplish this goal, rating methodologies must address any inherent prejudice against natural fibers, as emphasized by the International Wool Textile Organization during their input into the upcoming European legislation in a consultation with lawmakers. The stakes are high: the risk of losing credibility with consumers. Although a standardized method for evaluating the environmental impact of products is desirable, it is essential that the system is both significant and precise. Only then can it fulfil its purpose of correctly identifying genuinely sustainable products, as underscored by IWTO. IWTO responded to a consultation that was part of a wider initiative being developed by the European Commission. The initiative will lead to legislation on the environmental claims companies will be allowed to make about their products and services. Ensuring a level playing field for natural fibres The wool industry

By Jeannette Cook|2023-10-26T12:38:45+02:00September 23rd, 2020|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

Wool Face Masks In Demand

Covid-19 has made face masks 2020's most required accessory. Fashionable or not, public health officials around the world now agree: covering the nose and mouth helps reduce the spread of Covid-19. So, we need to cover up. For most of us that means a comfortable, protective covering for everyday use. Something washable and re-useable is a real win over single-use and disposable. Wool Face Masks: Natural, Breathable, Re-Useable Wool is unique among fibres in that, thanks to the structure of its fibres, it naturally wicks moisture away from the skin and allows the skin to breathe. Research has shown how superfine Merino wool operates as a dynamic buffer, regulating humidity and temperature near the skin – read more about how that works here. The result is: you feel drier and more comfortable. Many of the wool masks now on the market are using Merino wool next to the skin, or

By Jeannette Cook|2020-10-14T11:43:21+02:00August 20th, 2020|News, Wool Industry Blog|Comments Off

Virtu-Wool Conference

As a lead-in to the international Wool Research Conference, which has been postponed until March 2021 at the earliest, AgResearch hosts this on-line conference. Conference sessions will be scheduled at times that will maximise participation by international attendees. AgResearch (NZ) will host the International 'Virtual-Wool' Research Conference, 26-27 August 2020. The Conference welcomes abstracts for presentations from researchers working on wool, human hair, and protein-based materials that describe the latest findings in the following areas: Wool and hair fibre science Fibre processing technologies Wool textile chemistry, including coloration and finishing Haircare products and technologies Specialty animal fibres Sustainable wool processing The in-use and end-of-life impact of wool products Measurement and characterisation of wool fibres and textiles Novel wool products and technologies Design with wool Wool-derived materials and bioproducts The role of wool in a post-Covid world Email IWRC20@agresearch.co.nz for the abstract template and details. Abstract

By Jeannette Cook|2023-10-31T11:31:06+01:00July 9th, 2020|News|Comments Off

First Full Wool LCA Reveals Importance of Use Phase

The average number of lifetime wears for the “first user” of the garment: 79 When the first person to own the garment no longer wanted it, the garment was either disposed of to municipal waste, recycled, given to family members, or donated to charity and resold. The rate of donation to charity for resale: 76% The wool sweater was worn on average for 5.2 days between washes Use Phase is key to sustainability of clothing, wool research finds. The sustainability of our clothing is strongly influenced by the number of times it is worn and how long it is actively used, new wool reasearch reveals. By examining the full life cycle of a wool sweater, researchers found significant opportunities to reduce environmental impact by wearing clothes more often and keeping them longer. Completing seven years of work, a team of researchers from Australia, New Zealand

By Jeannette Cook|2022-11-28T10:08:21+01:00July 8th, 2020|News|Comments Off

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