Plastic backlash helps wool
A backlash against plastic may finally turn around the fortunes of the beleaguered wool industry, struggling with record low returns.
A wool summit hosted by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor in Wellington aimed to do what similar initiatives had failed to do – lift wool out of its downward spiral.
Farmers say strong wool returns are so low they are lucky to break even after shearing costs.
O’Connor said people attending the summit ‘‘stressed the need for the industry to tell the story of wool to consumers, at a time when the world is crying out for alternatives to plastic and synthetics’’.
‘‘There was a good mix of enthusiasm and experience and everyone agreed we need to build trust and collaboration across all parties to turn wool into a success story for New Zealand, as it once was.
‘‘Wool has huge potential as a sustainable and valuable product but has languished since deregulation in 1997 and the unsuccessful levy referendum in 2014, leading to a lack of industry unity, structure, common vision and strategic focus,’’ O’Connor said.
From the summit, a small working group was being formed and would work with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to progress the next steps.
The ministry was also investigating how it could use its economic intelligence unit to help the sector better connect with high-value customers.
Federated Farmers meat and wool chairman Miles Anderson said he was ‘‘a lot more optimistic coming out of the summit than I was going in. There is a willingness from all parts of the industry to move ahead’’.
Producers of strong wool were lucky to break even once the costs of growing and shearing were deducted. While strong wool was in crisis, both strong and finemicron wools had similar issues with wool harvesting, training and education.
Several working groups had previously unravelled, but the time for wool was now, given how environmentally aware the public had become, Anderson said.
‘‘Wool offers an environmentally friendly product in comparison with synthetics, oil-based products which release microplastics into the environment.
‘‘Using wool is a win for everyone involved. It is natural and renewable, biodegradable, breathable, non-allergenic and flame retardant, while creating jobs,’’ Anderson said.