Wool tiles range launched
Wools of New Zealand is building on its success in flooring Kiwi homes in woollen carpets with the development of a new wool tile range for the commercial sector.
The wool tile product is the culmination of an 18-month development programme designed to unlock opportunities in the commercial sector and drive greater value and returns for wool growers. The company is initially targeting the commercial sectors in New Zealand, Australian and UK.
“We are seeing companies and other organisations wanting to ensure their premises are more sustainable and looking after the wellbeing of their people,” says John McWhirter, chief executive of Wools of New Zealand.
“The many beneficial natural properties of our wool tiles make them ideal for using in commercial spaces.
“Wool is a natural product, it’s biodynamic and helps keep buildings warm in cold spells and cool during hot weather. Wool is biodegradable, naturally flame and stain resistant, it’s allergy-free and naturally grown rather than the fossil fuel-based fibres used in synthetics. Our tiles will be of interest to a wide range of organisations and commercial businesses, including the education sector, offices and retail.”
The price of the wool tiles was competitive in relation to the highend synthetic carpet tile market, he says.
The first organisation to use the tiles is the Hillview hospital and retirement home in Te Kūiti, which has had them fitted in its care home and plans to also use them in new independent living and respite facilities.
Hillview is owned and run by a community trust. Local farmer and trust chair Claire Grainger said that as part of a rural community, the trust was keen to support farmers and use wool carpets in an upgrade.
“A lot of our trust members and people living at Hillview have connections to rural communities. We wanted to support farmers and the properties of wool carpets make them ideal for use in a rest home - it’s a great product.
“A problem in the past was that wool carpets were much more expensive than synthetics but now they have become an affordable option.”
WNZ has an agreement with leading retailer Flooring Xtra, as well as other independent retail stores, to market its wool carpets, which are now available at more than 150 outlets across New Zealand.
“Our goal is to make wool carpet affordable to Kiwi organisations, businesses and households,” says John.
“We are doing this through using modern high-volume manufacturing operations and taking costs out of the supply chain while maintaining very high quality.” ■