Standard Wool UK sells millions of kilos of wool to countries across the world, but what is it all being used for?
Wools many uses
Wool is extremely elastic, it can be stretched or crumpled rightly and will recover its natural shape rapidly. Wool also has crimp which prevents the individual fibres from lying close to each other. As a result this produces a bulky effect which offers excellent insulation value.
- Clothing
The main use of wool is clothing ranging from knitwear such as socks and jumpers to cloth which is found in suits and costumes.
- Carpets & Furniture
Carpets which are made from wool are recognised as being the best quality, whilst items in the furniture trade such as chair covers feature wool.
- Cleaning
Wool is an excellent fibre to use in pads to soak up oil following a spill. According to reports, in 1999 when an oil spill occurred near Philip Island, Australia, the Philip Island penguins were fitted with wool sweaters. The sweaters helped maintain body heat and prevented the penguins from being poisoned by oil.
- Eco-friendly products
Hainsworths of Yorkshire produces caskets out of wool which are sustainable and biodegradable. Prince Charles is known as a big supporter of eco-friendly wool caskets.
Many companies make insulation out of wool as it has a higher R value (thermal resistance) than many traditional materials. In the garden, mulch pads made from wool offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic mulches.
- Bricks
Wool and seawood is being combined to help reinforce bricks, this process is less toxic than traditional alternatives and stronger.
- Packaging
In the UK packaging material is being made out of left over wool. This makes the wool-insulated boxes more environmentally-friendly, but they have also out-performed poly-based insulating material, keeping items twice as cold.
- Lanolin
Raw wool contains between 10% and 25% of grease which is also known as lanolin, which is a by-product of the scouring process. Lanolin consists of a highly complex mixture of esters, alcohols and fatty acids. It is used in adhesive tape, printing inks, motor oils and auto lubrication.
Also, it can be found in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals with virtually all cosmetics and beauty aids such as lipsticks, mascara, lotions, shampoos and hair conditioners, containing lanolin.
- Miscellaneous
Wool fibres are also used in tennis ball covers, pool table baize and hanging basket liners.
Sources:
http://www.sheep101.info/products.html
http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/ansc442/semprojs/2004/uses/wool.htm
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