Wool Source was established in 2021 to commercialise new products revolutionising use of New Zealand strong wool in new applications and industries.
About Wool Source
Wool Source is commercialising and launching innovative new uses for New Zealand’s strong wool that are good for people and the planet.
Wool Source’s multi-functional bio-based additives from pure New Zealand wool provide brands the chance to swap out petro-chemical or synthetic-based ingredients with a newewable, ethically sourced, traceable alternative.
Wool Source’s product range includes:
- Wool Source Particles designed for optimal extraction of hydrolysed keratin
- Wool Source Pigments for print, inks and cosmetics and powders
- Wool Source Powders for coatings and personal care.
The ground-breaking patent-protected technology to transform wool was developed as part of the New Uses for Strong Wool Programme. This multi-year programme was backed by WRONZ, the world-renowned Wool Industry Research team at Lincoln Agritech, New Zealand’s wool growers, supply chain participants and the New Zealand Government. WRONZ holds the intellectual property rights and patents for the world-leading technology it generated.
Wool Source’s ultimate goal is aligned to the WRONZ mandate to maximise returns for New Zealand strong wool growers. Its market engagement is focussed on identifying volume sales opportunities for its products and access to its IP and technology is conditional on customers using New Zealand strong wool.
You can find out more about Wool Source at woolsource.co.nz
Purpose
In 2016 WRONZ and the Ministry for Business and Innovation (MBIE) committed to a seven year, joint research New Uses for Crossbred Wool Partnership Programme. The purpose of the programme is to identify potential new uses for strong wool and generate transformational, high-value, and high-volume opportunities for the strong wool-based industry, utilising 20,000 tonnes (20 million kilos) of New Zealand strong wool. Wool Industry Research Limited
WIRL was subsequently formed by WRONZ to be the delivery vehicle in developing innovative new uses for crossbred wool. Following promising research outcomes, in 2020 another subsidiary company, Wool Source Limited, was formed to drive market engagement and commercialisation of new products arising from the New Uses Programme.
Key focuses
The New Uses Programme focuses on the deconstruction or breaking down of strong wool fibres which can then be reconstructed to form various materials able to be used to make other products.
New uses could include filtration, cosmetics, personal care, nutrition, luxury fibres, printing, bedding, fill applications, pigments, pastes, and leather. Several new deconstruction methods have been further refined, and a number of reconstructed products identified.
Looking ahead
The intention is to establish large scale manufacturing capability within New Zealand producing one or more of the new ingredients, and a research pilot plant is now underway.
New products will be licensed to a range of commercial entities including those in industries such as personal care and cosmetics, bedding, luxury garments, filtration, wet spinning and for use as pigments.
It is envisaged there will be economic benefit from the creation of an onshore ingredient manufacturing sector using New Zealand strong wool, for the growers, manufacturers, and WRONZ (by way of royalties) allowing further research and development.
The products developed so far are a good environmental story, and their development comes at a time when there is growing consumer demand for more natural, healthy, and sustainable products.
The programme aims to:
- Develop new added value ingredients that will generate opportunities for new business, manufacturing in New Zealand, increase exports, and international markets
- Highlight wool’s positive environmental and health benefits to help build value and demand for wool and the products made from it
- Increase the per kilogram farm gate price for New Zealand strong wool base on increased demand
- Maintain ownership of intellectual property, control rights and ensure that manufacturing is New Zealand based and using New Zealand strong wool
- Provide opportunities for WRONZ members and other companies to be involved
- Collaborate with Iwi on cultural and commercial opportunities
The Result
Deconstructed Particles (DP)
DP takes the form of very small and roughly spherical shaped powder. Research and market engagement show high-value opportunities for DP, used in a range of reconstructed forms including cosmetics, personal care, and printing.
Deconstructed Particles 2 (DP2)
DP2 are tiny cylinders of wool, which, among other potential uses, can be used in personal care. It is the simplest of the new ingredients and one of the easiest to produce.
Separated Cells (SC)
SC are spindle-like fragments of fibre consisting of mostly cortical cells. It has an enormous surface area (1,000 times greater than strong wool), making them ideal for uses such as down fill replacement and filtration.
Fibre Paste 3 (FP3)
FP3 is a deconstructed form of wool that can be used in wet spinning dopes. When combined with other materials it can be extruded into a smooth continuous filament fibre that is typically about 10 microns in diameter.
The Research Team
The Lincoln Agritech New Materials Group is the lead research provider to the New Uses Research Programme, a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Wool Industry Research Limited, a subsidiary company of WRONZ.
The team are focused on generating transformational, high-value and high-volume opportunities for the strong wool industry.
https://www.lincolnagritech.co.nz/capabilities/capabilities-and-projects/new-uses-for-wool/
Rob Kelly
Group Manager,
New Materials
Shaahin Saleh
Fibre Technologist
Amy Cruickshank
Postdoctoral Scientist
BSc, PhD
Claire Clark
Research Scientist
MSci
Gail Krsinic
Wool Research
Technologist
BSc
Nikolai Pidwerbesky
Process Engineering
Technician
Parag Dhake
Laboratory Technician
BSc, MSc (Organic Chemistry),
MSc (Carbohydrate
Chemistry), PhD
Roger Cook
Workshop Engineer
