Is Merino Wool Sustainable?

Merino wool is a natural fibre that is environmentally friendly, biodegradable and an excellent thermoregulator. Naturally lighter and softer than any other wool, merino wool is easy to wear next to skin and keeps your body at a comfortable temperature in any weather conditions. Through a process known as “absorption”, the fabric absorbs humidity and retains heat when temperatures are cold and humid. Conversely, when it’s hot, the wool uses the “evaporation” process to release humidity, making the body feel cool. Given these outstanding qualities merino wool is sought after in the textile world and is widely used in high performance outdoor clothing. 

Impact on Animals

Fabrics and garments made of merino wool fiber offer plenty of benefits, yet it is important to take into account the ethical considerations related to the use of this fiber.

Australia is currently the world’s largest supplier of wool and despite high industry standards for merino sheep, only 20% of farmers handle animals with ethical care. According to Peta.org ‘Merinos are bred to have wrinkly skin, which means more wool per animal. This unnatural overload of wool causes many sheep to collapse and even die of heat exhaustion during hot months, and the wrinkles collect moisture, especially under the tail. Attracted to the moisture, flies lay eggs in the folds of skin, and the hatched maggots can eat the sheep alive, a condition known as “flystrike”.’ In order to prevent flies from laying eggs, many Australian farmers perform a procedure called “mulesing” which is the removal of the wooly skin near the buttocks of a sheep,  often without any painkillers. The procedure is terribly painful for the sheep to endure and therefore there is an increasing pressure from the public to implement alternative fly control measures across the industry.

Impact on Land

Raising sheep for wool gobbles up precious resources. Land is cleared and trees are cut down to make room for grazing, leading to increased soil salinity and erosion and a decrease in biodiversity. According to Peta.org, approximately 20% of pastureland worldwide is considered degraded because of overgrazing, compaction, and erosion. Fortunately, there are more holistic land & livestock management methods that are gaining support and help ensure continued land regeneration, animal health and welfare, and profitability.

Mulesing-free and ethical merino wool

When buying merino wool, look for standards and certifications that ensure the fair treatment of animals and the respect of the environment, such as the Responsible Wool Standard, ZQ Merino Standard and the Soil Association Organic Standards.

The brands that use wool coming from guaranteed non-mulesed sheep, produced sustainably with low environmental impact are Finisterre & Patagonia.

Also, try to look for clothing made from recycled wool, and visit your local thrift shops - buying second-hand is always the most sustainable option.