The International Wool Textile Organisation held a two day roundtable in Belgium recently. It was attended by 90 stakeholders. The discussions centered around how to shape and strengthen international policy for a more sustainable wool industry. The event highlighted the many knowledge gaps and misconceptions attached to wool fiber. It presented some of the latest technology for a closed loop business model, including the microwave destruction of sewing threads, and computer-aided sorting in a session on wool and recycling.

IWTO is the international body representing the interests of the world's wool textile trade and industry. Its membership covers wool growers, traders, primary processors, weavers, garment makers and retailers of wool and allied fibers in its member-countries as well as all kinds of organizations related to wool products and the wool business in general. Its mission is to connect all parts of the wool supply chain in order to strengthen wool’s credentials as the world’s leading sustainable fiber and represent the wool industry at international level.

The organization communicates the benefits and value of wool to both internal and external stakeholders; documents and disseminates the science that supports wool’s unique natural properties; links members and international agencies and organizations; governs the trading standards and regulations for wool across the world and supports a platform for information and knowledge-sharing.

www.iwto.org/