With winter in full swing and the cold temperatures nipping at your nose, reaching for a woolly jumper may be thought of as the perfect warming solution. Yet the repercussions of wearing wool are not as innocent as you may have been lead to believe. Wool is often depicted as the harmless by-product from a sheep’s seasonal haircut making it seemingly sustainable – after all, the excess wool is reused and made into items of clothing. However, the material actually contributes to climate change and pollution, and according to the Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, the production of sheep’s wool is the fifth-worst material in terms of environmental harm. Not to mention the way in which wool is produced inflicts a great deal of suffering onto animals. Elisa Allen, PETA director, explains more about this fabric and recommends some kinder alternatives.
Environmental impact