Can Wool Be Ethical?

At New Mills Farm, we are passionate about sheep welfare and ethical wool production. As a family business, we focus on the welfare of our animals and use their wool to create beautiful, handmade British wool products. Our commitment to ethical and sustainable practices remains at the core of everything we do. Explore our collection of sustainable home decor and make a difference today.

Some common questions regarding wool sustainability include the following: 

• Is wool renewable?

• Is wool biodegradable?

• Is wool compostable?

• Is wool durable?

• Is wool a renewable resource?

The answer to all of these is yes! 

Wool is a raw, renewable resource. It is intrinsically biodegradable and (when not blended with other fabrics) can be composted at home. It’s also easily repairable and super durable—the number of wool clothing items you can find in vintage and thrift stores is a testament to this. It can also be processed organically without the use of harsh chemicals.  Wool is naturally antimicrobial and has anti-odour properties, which means it can be washed less frequently than other fabrics. When it is washed, pure wool won’t release microplastics into waterways and, ultimately, oceans. At the end of their life, wool fabrics don’t have to end up in landfills (provided we as consumers properly recycle or compost them) as they can biodegrade in a reasonably short amount of time. All of the above points knit together a pretty sustainable picture.