Editorial: Making wool great again
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
Moves to promote the natural and sustainable features of wool versus synthetic fibres and its fossil fuel connections appears to be growing momentum around the world.
NZ carpet manufacturer Bremworth has grabbed a lot of headlines during the past year with its move to stop selling synthetic carpets and only promote woollen floor coverings.
Meanwhile, a recent high-profile advertising campaign by levy-funded research and marketing group Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is highlighting the sustainability of wool, compared to synthetic textiles.
AWI’s wool campaign emphasises the eco-credentials of the fibre compared to synthetic fabrics. The ad features people dripping in oil, representing the fossil fuels used to create synthetic clothing.
The advertising campaign, which is running in America, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, depicts people swimming in a pool of black oil, struggling to get out. When they do finally emerge, they take off their dripping clothes to reveal clean wool products underneath.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
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