Natural Fibres Call for Credibility in Textile Labelling
Sustainability labels must be accurate and complete if they are to drive green goals. But problems with how sustainability is measured risk a loss of credibility.
Let’s Talk Wool
Let's Talk Wool The 90th IWTO Congress celebrated the creation of the first global wool trading standards, drafted 90 years ago. Soon, the textile trade will be tied to sustainability. Here’s how wool is leading the conversation. One of the effects of the ongoing pandemic is that people care more about the clothes they buy and how they are made. They want to buy less and wear what they have for longer. As consumers begin to turn over clothing labels and ask pertinent questions about the origins of their purchases, makers and sellers have a duty to provide transparent and truthful answers. The global wool pipeline is responding to this call. Over the course of the IWTO Congress, held 17-21 May, speakers from the wool textile pipeline spoke to solutions being developed and, in many cases, already offered by the industry. Towards Carbon Zero 2020 brought twenty years of
Why Sustainability Is Everything, and How Wool Delivers
One of the effects of the ongoing pandemic is that people care more about the clothes they buy and how they are made. They want to buy less and wear what they have for longer. How sustainability became “everything”, and how wool delivers to that requirement, will be the subject of the upcoming Retail Forum (20 May), part of our week-long annual Congress. Traceability, ratings and retail 2020 brought twenty years of change in a single year, says Simon Cotton, Chief Executive of Johnstons of Elgin, specialists in cashmere and fine wool since 1797. Amid changes to the market and the places where retail sales occur, Cotton flags up 2020 as the year of sustainability. This should be good news for a natural fibre, right? Not quite: despite being natural, renewable, and biodegradable, wool must work much harder to present its sustainability credentials, because the way textile apparel ratings
Campaign for Wool at the 90th IWTO Congress
Title: A Decade of Wool: Celebrating Progress on Both Sides of the Atlantic In 2020, the Campaign for Wool marked a decade of promoting the wonders of wool, sparking enthusiasm and innovative initiatives in the UK. Simultaneously, across the Atlantic, the Campaign for Wool in Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Wool Council, embarked on audacious steps to reshape the Canadian wool landscape. The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) is excited to welcome two distinguished speakers to our upcoming event: Peter Ackroyd from the Campaign for Wool and Matthew J. Rowe from Campaign for Wool Canada. Their insights promise to be invaluable as we explore the world of wool and its promising future IWTO Congress. A Fresh Look for Canadian Wool The Campaign for Wool Canada, inaugurated in 2014 in Nova Scotia by HRH The Prince of Wales, has generated millions of media impressions in its mission to educate
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
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
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
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
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
Wool’s Role in Sustainable Fashion
Sustainable fashion has recently been thrust into the spotlight with the media reporting on sustainability across various industries. Companies are being forced to reconsider everything from raw materials to production and labour practices. The fashion industry is moving towards the reusing and recycling of fashion items as opposed to utilizing more and more resources. Mindsets are shifting towards sustainable materials and labour practices. Governments around the world are rethinking how products, including clothing, are made and disposed of. The EU, for example, has ambitious plans for collecting used textiles and ensuring that products are easier to reuse, repair and recycle. What is Sustainable Fashion? Sustainable fashion is a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system. There is a shift toward greater environmental integrity and social justice. Sustainable fashion involves more than tackling textiles or products solely, it involves addressing the system of fashion