How many times can wool be recycled?

We often hear about how recyclable wool is, but there’s a million-dollar question that no one has answered: how many times can wool be recycled? Here’s what we found out!

Nowadays, wool is the most recycled apparel fibre in the world, and its recycling has been here since the early 1800s, but nobody has ever come up with a definitive answer on how many times it can be recycled. That’s why we decided to partner with a prestigious university and conduct a pioneering study that digs deep into the potential of wool recycling – in order to highlight even more that wool is THE key fibre to create effective circular economy models.

• Wool has the potential to be recycled multiple times in a closed-loop system
• Wool fibre recyclability strongly depends on initial fibre lenght, fabric structure and recycling machine setting.
• Recycling does not affect wool’s tensile strenght

Read the full article to discover more!

Wool can be recycled up to 6 times in a closed-loop system

Our study reveals that wool fibers can be mechanically recycled up to 6 times in a closed-loop system without compromising their core properties. This means that wool garments have the potential to be transformed into new yarns, fabrics, and garments multiple times through the woollen spinning process, provided the fibers remain at least 20mm long.

However, wool’s recyclability doesn’t end here.

Even when fibers become too short for woollen spinning, they can still be used in open-loop recycling, where they’re repurposed into raw materials for other industries or lower-grade products within the textile sector. This versatility underscores wool’s significant role in driving circularity.

The number of times wool fibres can be recycled strongly depends on 3 key factors and the balance between them:

1) Initial fiber length

Wool fibers' ability to withstand multiple recycling processes largely depends on their initial length. For example, merino wool fibers, as opposed to longer cross-bred wools, can be expected to be less sensitive to fibre breakage during mechanical recycling.

2) Fabric structure

The structure of the wool fabric—whether it’s knitted or woven—plays a significant role in determining recyclability. Knitted fabrics tend to experience less fiber breakage than woven fabrics, which leads to longer retained fiber lengths during the recycling process. In essence, recycling post-consumer knitted garments yields better results in terms of fiber quality retention.

3) Recycling machine settings

Not all wool recycling systems are equal. Different machines and configurations result in varying outcomes for recycled fibers. The know-how of wool recyclers, including machine settings and process techniques, can significantly impact fiber properties and the environmental footprint of the recycling process.

Wool’s tensile strength remains intact through recycling

The study found that recycling wool does not compromise its tensile strength. In fact, across all the wool samples tested, the fibers retained over 92% of their tensile strength after being recycled, demonstrating that wool remains robust and durable even after undergoing multiple recycling cycles.

Wool’s ability to withstand several recycling cycles - and even beyond in open-loop systems - makes it a game-changer for circular fashion.

HOWEVER, NOT ALL RECYCLED WOOL IS THE SAME.

MWool? is the next generation of recycled wool because we make a real difference in selecting the right materials and setting up our recycling machines, so as to preserve fiber quality as much as possible. All of this in a closed-loop system, scientifically measured with a Life Cycle Assessment and certified through the international EPD? scheme.?

Make sure to discover more on our website!