The benefits of wool extend further than most people realise. Beyond its versatility in fashion and design, warmth, and longevity, wool is also biodegradable and sustainable. A significant environmental benefit of wool is its lack of microplastic generation. Here, we explain why this is so important for human health and the health of life on our planet.
Why Microplastics Matter
Microplastics are widely understood as one of the biggest environmental menaces our planet faces today. Not only do they have an adverse effect on the planet, they affect human health too. Ingestion of microplastics has been associated with fertility issues, increased cancer risk, and other health problems. (Sources here and here.) Furthermore, analysts and medical practitioners have detected microplastics in the bone marrow of leukemia patients and the brains of dementia patients.
Where do these tiny, toxic particles originate? While they have various sources, a significant contributor to microplastic pollution is synthetic fibres, commonly used in clothing worn by millions globally. Throughout a garment’s lifecycle, these fibres shed and degrade into progressively smaller particles. When synthetic materials like polyester and nylon break down, these minute particles become microplastics.
Why Wool is the Answer
Similar to synthetic fibres, wool also breaks down into tiny fibres. However, a crucial distinction is that wool fibres are biodegradable.
Wool is made of a protein called keratin which breaks down readily in soil or water, consumed by fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.
Therefore, when wool is worn and washed, and its fibres enter water and drainage systems, eventually reaching the ocean, they biodegrade naturally, serving as nutrients for microorganisms. This process can actually enrich ecosystems.
Read Next: The Importance of Testing in the Wool Supply Chain
What about Machine Washable Wool?
Some wool undergoes a treatment to make it machine washable. Otherwise, the wool will felt when washed. There is a common misunderstanding regarding machine-washable wool treatments.
Making wool machine-washable involves applying a polymer to the wool fibre. While this might seem like adding plastic, it’s important to understand the chemistry.
First of all, not all polymers are plastic. Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating structural units called monomers. They can be found in nature (natural polymers) or created synthetically.
Examples of natural polymers include DNA, proteins, cellulose (found in plants), and rubber.
Examples of synthetic polymers include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polyurethane, and silicone.
The machine washable wool treatment applies a polymer called Hercosett 125, a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, to the wool fibre’s surface, creating a molecular bond with the wool proteins. This resulting wool protein ‘matrix’ becomes integrated into the wool, not a separate plastic layer or coating. The ‘matrix’ is durable and does not peel, melt, or reshape.
Furthermore, treated wool retains the properties of untreated wool, with the added benefit of being shrink-resistant. Machine-washable wool remains biodegradable, just like wool that isn’t treated. Recent research detected no microplastic formation from Hercosett-treated wool. In fact, the treatment actually makes the wool fibre more readily biodegradable, both in water and in soil.
That’s a lot of chemistry, we know. Bottom line: Machine washable wool gives you convenience, without compromising on wool’s natural environmental benefits.
Learn More About Wool and Sustainability by Browsing IWTO’s Wool Industry Resources
Our daily choices impact the environment. By choosing wool, you reduce the prevalence of microplastic-shedding textiles and contribute positively to your health and the planet.
For more information, take a look at our Microplastics fact sheet and other pages on wool’s sustainability!
Now Read: Wool and Zero Waste Day