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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

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 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 and Norway have published the first full wool life cycle assessment

HRH The Prince of Wales Sends a Message to the Wool Industry This message from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Patron of The Campaign for Wool, was sent to the Chairman Nicholas Coleridge for distribution to all Campaign supporters across the world.

Both untreated wool and machine-washable wool biodegrade to a high degree, new research shows. What happens to textile fibres once they enter freshwater systems and the sea? It's a question that received scant attention until the recent rise of concern over microfibres. A substantial body of research firmly establishes how wool biodegrades on land, but far less was understood of its behaviour in the aquatic environment – until now. Findings released by New Zealand research institute AgResearch now reveal the biodegradation rates of various textile fibres in the marine environment. The research, led by Dr Stewart Collie, followed the path of the fibres released by domestic laundry processes, examining how the breakdown process occurs. Key Findings Both untreated wool and machine-washable wool biodegrade readily in the marine environment, as does the cellulose-based viscose rayon. Synthetic fibres showed little or no biodegradation. Machine-washable wool biodegraded even faster than untreated wool.

First standardized guidelines measuring plastic pollution published by the Plastic Leak Project Leading sustainability consulting group Quantis and ecodesign center EA, in partnership with 35 member organizations and stakeholders, have released of the Plastic Leak Project (PLP) Guidelines, the first standardized methodology to map, measure and forecast plastic leakage. IWTO is proud to be part of this project, and in furthering the understanding of the sustainability of textiles throughout the supply chain. The Plastic Problem Plastic leakage is the potential amount of macro- and microplastics that are not kept in a circular loop or properly managed at their end-of-life, and thus leak into the environment. Following a yearlong collaboration and rigorous testing of the methodology through two in-depth pilot projects, the pioneering guidelines and proof-of-concept case studies are publicly available as of 28 February 2020. Download the Plastic Leak Project Methodological Guidelines and Brief. Of the estimated 8300 million metric tons of virgin plastic

Has the international sporting goods industry finally woken up? Sustainability, fair trade and social responsibility have been on the radar of sporting goods manufacturers for years now and continue to gain traction. With consumers increasingly on the look-out for fair-trade products as well as those made using environmentally friendly processes, companies are under pressure to adopt an appropriate stance. In line with the motto “Be responsible”, ISPO Munich 2020 offered 80,000 visitors a comprehensive insight into the areas of environmental protection, production & design, and society & health. Sustainability Hub At the Sustainability Hub, hosted by ISPO partner Greenroom Voice, "it wasn't just about business anymore," noted organiser Transparency Showcase Cira Reidel. "The collective wake up was tangible. For the first time there was real discussion about what we have to face as an industry. "Even the bright pink elephant in the room got tackled: 'How much stuff do we actually need? Don't we have too

Janet Prescott reports from Florence It may have been some time coming, but summer wool is a reality: that was one of the main messages of Pitti Filati where yarns and knitwear for Spring /Summer 2021 were on display. Increasingly used in light fabrics, wool brings freshness, breathability and adaptability to summer clothing. This is modern wool at its finest and we will surely see more as wool continues to lose its identification as a fibre suitable only for cold weather. Pitti Filati highlights La Lana d’Estate (“Summer Wool”) Introducing fine micron yarn for fine-gauge knits, Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia launched “La Lana d’Estate” or Summer Wool, a major project with The Woolmark Company. The project highlights wool's biodegradability and renewable qualities, enhancing many of the natural characteristics which make it so important currently. From the Spinners Summer season 2021 spinners have produced fashion yarns with multiple structures, printed surfaces, twists and dynamic looks brushed,