Textile Exchange

Organic wool is from sheep that have been raised without synthetic or harmful chemicals. The sheep are grazed on pesticide-free land that is not over-grazed and are never sprayed or dipped; as is commonly practiced in conventional sheep farming. Requirements are as follows:¹

•        Livestock feed and forage used from the last third of gestation must be certified organic

•        Use of synthetic hormones and genetic engineering is prohibited

•        Use of synthetic pesticides (internal, external, and on pastures) is prohibited

•        Producers must encourage livestock health through good cultural and management practices (e.g. no sheep dipping in insecticides to control external parasites such as ticks and lice, and no overgrazing)

•        Certification by a third party to an organic standard

^1. Eco Wash 21: http://www.kurabo.co.jp/division/wool/ecowash/index.html Replacing chlorination by an ozone pretreatment