How wool packaging contributes to sustainability goals

As humans, we have pushed the boundaries of sustainability to an alarming degree. At the current rate, we will soon need three Earth-like planets to support our population and lifestyle. But there’s still time to get our act together and forge a more peaceful, prosperous, and healthier future for all.?

This brings me to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda - a set of 17 goals aimed at bringing the entire world on the same page on economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.

In today’s article, I discuss an incredibly undervalued resource that has the potential to support several SDGs. Yes, I am talking about waste wool—a natural and renewable material that’s becoming an increasingly popular alternative to problematic polystyrene in cold chain distribution.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

Sustainability is an ongoing journey, where every little choice counts. This could mean ditching the car to take a bus to work or switching plastic packaging in favour of something with a far lower impact on the planet - which brings us to wool.

There’s no two ways about it. Wool is better than synthetic, fossil fuel-based materials in every sense. For starters, it’s 100% natural, renewable, and abundantly available. Most wool-based packaging is actually made from waste generated during sheep shearing - an annual process essential for the health and well-being of sheep.

Under the right conditions, wool’s protein-based fibres can biodegrade almost completely in six months - all the while nourishing soil with nitrates. This is in stark contrast to polystyrene, whose fragments never return to nature. They only break down into tinier and tinier bits, adding to the microplastic pollution crisis.?

With wool packaging, waste otherwise sent to landfills is transformed into a reusable product that’s also less harmful to the environment at its end of life.

SDG 14: Reducing Marine Pollution

The ocean floor is littered with about 50-75 trillion pieces of microplastics —one of the most damaging stealth pollutants of our time. Microplastics are ultra-small pieces of plastic that measure less than 5mm—about the size of a grain of rice. Because of their incredibly tiny size, microplastics easily enter the bodies of marine animals through indigestion or seawater, causing them serious harm.?

The popular foamed polystyrene packaging is a major source of microplastics. When it enters the oceans, it gets broken down into tiny particles under the harsh sun and strong waves, never biodegrading, only leaching toxic chemicals into the seawater, moving up the food chain and threatening human health.

On the other hand, we have wool, which is biodegradable in marine environments. Research funded by Australian Wool Innovation carried out a series of experiments in New Zealand. It reported that machine-washable wool, untreated wool, and cellulose-based viscose rayon fibres readily break down in aquatic environments compared to synthetic fibres that showed little to no deterioration.

SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth

As surprising as it may sound, more than 50% of wool is dumped, burned, or buried in major sheep-farming countries like Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The reasons range from quality not being up to mark to produce yarn to not having enough economic incentives against its disposal.?

Despite not having a market for waste wool, sheep farmers can’t avoid shearing as it directly affects sheep’s health and welfare. The costly shearing process with no use for its by-product proves to be a double whammy for sheep farmers.?

At Planet Protector, we process 10 tonnes of waste wool a week sourced from Australian and New Zealand sheep farmers. This additional revenue stream helps boost rural economies while creating new skilled jobs in the manufacturing industry.

It’s a win-win-win solution. A win for the sheep farming communities that find a more meaningful and profitable use for the sheared wool. A win for business communities in the form of a sustainable insulator that outperforms traditional packaging. Finally, it’s a win for the planet, with millions of tonnes of polystyrene boxes kept out of landfills and oceans.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Thanks to changing consumer sentiments, sustainability is finally getting its day in the sun among packaging purchasers. It’s no wonder we’re seeing innovative solutions made from seaweed, mycelium, and waste wool, which are giving a tough fight to traditional packaging.?

One of the main reasons polystyrene has ruled the packaging value chain for too long is its insulation capabilities. This has made it a go-to material for shipping to the pharmaceutical and food industries. But wool not only does what polystyrene does - it does it better.?

We have just recently achieved independent testing validation for our wool packaging, demonstrating superior performance of (-80)°C for 6 days! This is a groundbreaking achievement for the cold chain industry and a 'first of its kind' wool innovation. Manufactured in Australia on our new production line using 100% Aussie wool, this packaging sets a new standard for thermal protection.

Wool not only provides superior insulation but can also absorb up to one-third of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, making it perfect for temperature-sensitive deliveries. Additionally, wool is naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial, preventing mold or microbial growth during transit. Wool liners absorb shocks and vibrations like a champ during transit, which is why they are the preferred packaging for fragile items.?

In other words, supporting packaging solutions made from renewable materials like waste wool aligns perfectly with the UN’s vision of a sustainable and fossil fuel-free future.

SDG 13: Climate Action

At no part of its life cycle does wool harm the planet. It has an incredibly low end-of-life impact, considering it’s recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable. It’s also abundantly available as a by-product of sheep shearing. Plus, wool can be used a number of times in a number of ways. But let’s spend a minute discussing its source. Wool, as we all know, comes from sheep, which are a part of the natural carbon cycle. When sheep graze, they use up organic carbon in plants, digest it, and convert it into wool.?

Simply put, sheep are carbon sinks, as about half of their wool’s weight is actually pure organic carbon. The environmental goodness of waste wool doesn’t stop there. Because it is so light and flexible, wool can be flat-packed. When it comes to saving truck space, the rigid polystyrene pales in comparison to wool. Businesses that have switched to wool-based packaging have reported stunning reductions in freight costs and carbon footprint.

SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing

The future, as the UN’s SDGs see it, has no place for something as toxic as expanded polystyrene (EPS). Also known as styrofoam, EPS is linked to a number of serious health ailments, including cancer. It has been classified as a human carcinogen by several organisations, including the WHO. Besides cancer, exposure to EPS can also increase the risk of vision or hearing loss, and ailments affect the nervous system. Despite all this, styrofoam take-out containers, cups, and packaging material are still very much a part of our everyday lives.?

To promote healthier living and well-being for all, harmful oil-based materials need to be phased out sooner rather than later. Wool-based packaging provides a way out. Woolpack wool felts are free of harsh chemicals and are scoured using just soap and hot water. That’s not all. The natural anti-microbial properties of wool also contribute to healthier and safer packaging overall.?

Summing Up

Faster adoption of wool packaging can stop thousands of tonnes of polystyrene from clogging landfills every year. At Planet Protector, we’ve leveraged wool’s natural benefits to create a superior and greener alternative to polystyrene.?

I am thrilled to share that, so far, Woolpack has helped us replace over 15 million polystyrene boxes while channelling 8,000 tonnes of wool waste to improve sheep farmers' income. Learn more about Woolpack on our website.