Help Wool Get Fair Treatment: Sign Make The Label Count’s Petition

The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) calls on members of the global wool community to support a vital new petition launched by Make the Label Count (MTLC).

The petition urges European Commission policymakers to ensure fair treatment of natural fibres in upcoming textile sustainability policies.

As the representative body for the global wool industry, IWTO recognises the critical importance of ensuring wool’s environmental benefits are properly acknowledged in EU legislation.

EU Decisions Impact Global Standards

“This petition represents a crucial opportunity for the wool industry to make its voice heard,” said IWTO Secretary General and MTLC spokesperson Dalena White.

“Although we’ve seen a temporary pause in the proposed apparel labelling scheme that would have unfairly penalized natural fibres, we cannot afford to be complacent. It remains critical that we continue engaging with EU decision-makers to ensure they fully acknowledge wool’s environmental advantages and implement genuinely science-based evaluation criteria in future policies.”

The timing of this initiative is particularly important as the EU’s sustainability policies often influence global standards. With approximately 25% of Australian wool consumed in European markets, and similar proportions from other wool-producing nations, fair assessment of wool’s environmental credentials is essential for protecting the livelihoods of wool-growing communities worldwide.

Read Next: IWTO At Science-Based Fashion Talks

Join the Movement to Protect Natural Fibres

MTLC recently co-hosted a roundtable event inside the European Parliament titled ‘From Farm to Fashion: how natural fibres protect and support our environment,’ bringing together EU policymakers to discuss the environmental impacts of different fibres. The event highlighted how natural fibres like wool contribute to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and sustainable land management – benefits that must be reflected in any environmental assessment framework.

We encourage IWTO members, industry partners, and supporters of natural fibres to sign the petition and share it widely within their networks. Together, we can ensure that EU textile policies promote truly sustainable practices that value natural, renewable, biodegradable fibres and help put fast fashion out of fashion.

Learn More About Wool and Sustainability by Browsing IWTO’s Wool Industry Resources

For more information on the wool industry around the world, take a look at our fact sheets, statistics and guidelines.

Now Read: History of Wool and IWTO