Declining NZ wool quality raises concerns for exporters, says Patterson
A deterioration in the quality of New Zealand's wool clip is a problem for manufacturers and exporters, says Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson.
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.
