THE BENEFITS OF WOOL
Sustainable Living Fabrics uses only Australian wool in our 100% wool ranges and our wool rich blends. This wool is a rapidly renewable eco wool yarn which has been independently tested and audited at all stages of production to comply with EU eco label criteria.
Australia maintains world class animal health and welfare standards, as well as having strict regional and national bio-security programs to prevent the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases. There are many rigorous restrictions regarding certain herbicides and pesticides that can be used around Australian livestock, ensuring the quality of the wool and the safety of the sheep producing the wool.
Australia is guided by the 5 Freedoms for the Welfare of Animals:
1. Freedom from Hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviours
5. Freedom fear and distress.
Wool has an outstanding mechanical stretch due to the Keratin protein, which can not be replicated synthetically. It will bounce back into shape and keep performing under heavy conditions, this makes it perfect for Heavy Duty Commercial textiles.
​
Wool is like a spring, it has a natural crimp that allows it to return to its natural shape even after being stretched by up to 30%. Its complex coiled structure gives it resilience against becoming flat and hard, so you can count on wool to keep its shape.
PROPERTIES OF WOOL
Wool has balanced thermal insulation properties - meaning it is warmer in winter and cool in the summer.
Wool is hypoallergenic - It is resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew that can trigger allergic reactions in many people.
It absorbs harmful pollutants from the air and it doesn’t re-emit them. It is estimated that wool used in interiors can help purify the air for 30 years.
Dust mites don’t like wool - dust mites need moisture to survive. Microscopic pores in wool respond effectively to any minor changes in humidity making it quite unfavourable for the breeding and growth of the house dust mite.
Wool is naturally anti-static - Meaning wool generates very little amounts of static electricity because of the qualities of its natural wool fibres. Static attracts lint, dirt, and dust so its anti-static properties keep it much cleaner for longer.
BIODEGRADABLE
Wool is a renewable product, each year sheep produce a fleece, making wool a natural and renewable resource.
​
What makes wool biodegradable is a natural protein called Keratin, the same protein found in human hair. This gives wool its resilience and elasticity as well as its ability to decompose in soil, enriching the soil and nourishing new life. Whereas most synthetics are extremely slow to
degrade and harmful to the soil.
FIRE RETARDANCY
Wool is naturally fire retardant. It is difficult to ignite, has low flame spread and heat release properties; it doesn’t melt and has superior self-extinguishing qualities. It makes it the perfect product for projects that have strict fire safety regulations.
​
All of our fabrics are independently tested to the Standards prescribed by the NCC for the fire performance of interior textiles.
​
AS/NZS 1530.3
AS/NZS 3837
And IMO Res. A.652 (16) 8.2 & 8.3