The importance of bringing in your wool to us

Ulster Wool collects, grades, markets and sells wool on behalf of Northern Ireland sheep farmers to the international wool textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings, and apparel.

More brands are specifying wool from Ulster Wool and partners British Wool, with over 150 licensees now producing various products which is essential if the organisation wishes to differentiate its clip from the commodity market. Innovative new products and uses for wool continue to evolve, offering new markets and providing truly sustainable alternatives to non-biodegradable alternatives.

Many household names are now making use of wool becoming increasingly recognised as a sustainable and versatile product with the environment at the forefront of the agenda for many businesses.  The opportunities to add value to wool are increasing.

There has been growing interest in Ulster Wool’s traceability scheme and against a backdrop of increased demand for sustainable products backed up by transparent supply chains, wool is well placed. Through these systems and marketing, Ulster Wool can add value to the raw product received from you, our members.

Further promoting wool as a sustainable product, we have been working alongside partners on a lifecycle assessment (LCA) of wool to help champion its characteristics. An LCA is the gold standard for proving and documenting 0the environmental impacts of a product. It looks at the whole stage of the product’s life from raw extraction to disposal, as well as its external effects and, if granted, will educate supply chain members and the wider industry.

The team at Ulster Wool remain committed to driving consumer demand through campaigns and work with manufacturers and processors. Our licensing and traceability schemes continue to grow reflecting the increasing interest from consumers in this natural and sustainable product.

We are determined to continue building on this success for the benefit of all sheep farmers.