At PERFORMANCE DAYS, in partnership with Woolmark and the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) we are highlighting the unique role of wool in the natural carbon cycle. All life on Earth is based on carbon, and sheep and their wool are a vital part of the system that sustains it.

Wool is made from biogenic carbon, captured by plants through photosynthesis and converted into organic compounds that sheep ingest. Around 50% of wool’s weight is pure biogenic carbon, more than cotton or wood-based fibers. Unlike synthetic fibers, which rely on fossil carbon and contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation, wool stores recently captured CO₂ in a durable, wearable form.

Sheep are naturally integrated into the carbon cycle: most of the organic carbon they consume is returned to the atmosphere as CO₂ through respiration, while a small amount becomes methane, which gradually breaks down into CO₂. This carbon is then available for new plant growth, keeping the cycle balanced. Good management of pastures and grazing systems can even enhance carbon storage in soil, supporting climate change mitigation.

Wool also acts as a short-term carbon store in garments. For example, the 2016/17 Australian wool clip represented over 419 million kg of CO₂-e sequestered for the lifetime of the wool products. Beyond its life in clothing, wool is biodegradable, returning nutrients and carbon to the soil in just a few months. It is also the most reused and recycled apparel fiber, finding second lives in garments, furnishings, carpets, and upholstery.

In short, wool is renewable, recyclable, and carbon-smart – a natural fiber that works with, not against, the planet.

👉 Discover how wool supports the carbon cycle and explore the Wool Area at PERFORMANCE DAYS!

How wool reduces climate impact: sustainable wear, naturally

At PERFORMANCE DAYS, we are highlighting wool’s unique advantages in reducing the environmental impact of clothing during its use phase. How we wear, care for, and wash a garment has a major effect on its environmental footprint – and wool performs exceptionally well in all these areas.

Key benefits of wool during the use phase:

• Wool is washed less frequently: Natural odor resistance and resilience allow wool garments to stay fresh longer. Simply airing them out or using steam is often enough.
• Wool is washed at lower temperatures: On average, consumers wash wool at 30°C compared to 41°C for cotton, saving energy with every cycle.
• Line-drying reduces energy use: Wool is typically air-dried.