THE world's largest purchaser of "spinner" style superfine wools has launched a Sustainability Accreditation Scheme.
The SustainaWool Integrity Scheme implemented by New England Wool aims to promote wool production that is sustainable for the animal, farmer and environment.
New England Wool managing director Andrew Blanch said the consumer needed to understand wool producers take the utmost care.
"Not enough focus or energy has been placed on promoting the sustainable nature of the wool production system in Australia, particularly high quality superfine wool production systems," he said.
"The wool consumer is increasingly demanding a higher level of traceability along the pipeline of the production system from which they buy.
"Not only does the product need to be of the highest quality, there also needs to be a compelling story behind the product clearly showing the highest level of environmental and social sustainability and animal welfare."
Mr Blanch said the new scheme was available to all suppliers - current or future - to New England Wool, and information provided via the SustainaWool documentation by each wool supplier would be forever linked with the wool produced from that particular property.
"The SustainaWool Integrity Scheme Grower Checklist is a self-assessment document, but each declarant signs with the full understanding and knowledge they can be subject to audit at any time by a registered audit company or authorised entity," Mr Blanch said.
