Improve technical characteristics of local eco-friendly wool to sustain local environment
Develop a healthy local wool sector generating sensible and eco responsible economic activity by improving the technical characteristics of the wool.
Description
The Parc Naturel du Pays de Collines has developed a local wool chain, from the stockbreeder to the consumer. To develop this chain, and make it last, the quality of the products (yarn and wool rolls) need to be improved.
A process is needed in order to have a constant yarn quality (size and colour). The wool is treated only with natural products and the most ecological processes possible. Increasing the quality of the yarn and wool products is part of a bigger plan aiming at including as many actors as possible in keeping alive the specificities and the natural diversity of the Area of the Pays des Collines.
Target
Developing and professionalizing the wool chain would allow:
- The breeders to take part to the project and get involved in the dynamic of the Parc
-change the vision breeders have about the wool, often viewed as a waste
- Create employment and value
- Include non-professional breeders that would use sheep instead of machinery to maintain their land
- Bring back the forgotten key role of the sheep in the ecological and economics balance of the area (meet-wool-maintenance of the lands)
- (re)develop all the crafts and knowhow of the wool chain.
Competencies
We work with small breeders; we harvest wool from various species of schiheep. We are looking for a process to have constancy in the shape, thickness, quality and colour of the woollen threads and rolls without compromising the ecological aspects of the treatment.
Innovation
Through a better process and better product, we intend to develop the whole economical fabric of the area of the Pays des Collines and involve as many local actors as possible within a radius of 100 km. This could boost employment and economy within the wool chain but also spread to other sectors while promoting sustainable crafts, trades and ways of breeding and maintaining lands.
The solution should help us creating an eco-friendly process to make qualitative products. This process would allow many different and qualitative uses of wool.
We intend work with local designers and extend this collaboration to use the wool as a raw material for objects such as baby cribs, matrasses, and other innovative uses of wool.
Commitment
We can provide knowledge on the traditional wool manufacturing. We will provide feedback, data and contacts on every step of the chain.
Compliance
The challenge is compliant with ethical standards.