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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

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

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