For at least six months of the year – depending on the hemisphere – humans turn to wool en masse; when autumn dispels summer’s warmth and on cold, blustery winter days, we look for woollen comfort, be it in our garments, in blankets and in our upholstery.

Indeed, human civilisation has a long relationship with sheep and the wool they produce. The first noted use of the textile was in the European Bronze Age. Wool gained traction as a clothing fabric in Ancient Roman and Greek societies and brought staggering wealth to entrepreneurial families who controlled its distribution in the Middle Ages (such as the Medicis of Florence). Fast forward to 2020 and the wool trade has not lost its oomph. While it has largely moved out of Europe, with production centres now concentrated in Australia, the US and China, the United Kingdom still produces some 22,000 tonnes per year.

Wool’s sticking power as an industry though is not just because of its warmth and comfort, it owes a lot to its sustainable qualities. When it comes to the textile industry – which is not necessarily known for its environmentally friendly status – wool is in a league of its own. To begin with, sheep and the wool they produce are part of the natural carbon cycle: sheep consume organic carbon in plants and convert it into wool. Consequently, it’s a biodegradable fibre, which means that, if you bury wool (even an entire garment) in the ground, it will eventually decompose. Additionally, products made of it tend to have long lifespans and don’t normally require heavy duty washing. To top it off, it’s the perfect material for recycling into new products.