Woolmark introduces certification for recycled wool

For the first time in its 60-year history, Woolmark has expanded its certification program to include a specification for recycled wool. The new ‘Recycled Wool’ sub-brand falls under the RW-1 Specification, representing a significant step toward a more sustainable textile industry.

Woolmark’s new certification ensures that products contain at least 20 percent recycled wool while meeting the program’s stringent quality standards. This applies to products made from both pre-consumer sources, such as fabric cutting waste, and post-consumer sources.

John Roberts, managing director of The Woolmark Company, emphasized wool’s global prominence as the most recycled apparel fiber. “Our new Recycled Wool mark supports the shift from a linear to a circular production model, reducing waste and pollution,” said Roberts. Despite wool comprising just 1 percent of the apparel fiber market, this initiative aims to promote the reuse and repurposing of wool to keep it in circulation longer.

The introduction of Recycled Wool builds on Woolmark’s long-standing efforts to foster a circular industry. Since 1964, the Woolmark logo has supported the development of natural, durable products, underscoring the organization’s commitment to sustainability.