SUSTAINABLY SOURCED NATURAL WOOLS

 

Our journey of sustainability takes us from the farms of our growers and the natural benefits of the wool itself, right through to the manufacturing methods at our unique British mill. In these pages you will find actions we are currently taking, as well as the commitments we are making for the future.

 

Within our factory in the heart of Yorkshire, we make extra efforts to be a more sustainable business each and every day. Wool is of course a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre, which when combined with our commitments to zero waste, recycling and solar energy create a product of the highest ethical quality.

 

All of our wool growers respect the five animal freedoms and are mulesing free.

Healthy sheep = quality wool.

FARM VISIT Masterton  |  New Zealand

Our international network of Wool growers are annually audited under a number of criteria, covering areas such as animal welfare, land management and social impact.

Whilst the majority of this is completed by an external accreditted body, we’re always keen to visit the source and see the quality work with our own eyes!  Pictured on these pages are some of the sheep in Masterton whose wool will be ending up in an Abraham Moon cloth.

We source the vast majority of wool from mulesing-free countries including New Zealand, South Africa and GB.

Natural Eleasticity

Wool has a unique crimp providing it with natural elasticity, allowing fabrics to return to their natural shape and be able to better resist wrinkles and creasing.

Flame Retardant

The high nitrogen and water content make wool a naturally fire retardant fibre which is hard to ignite. Wool does not melt or drip which is why the fibre is a natural choice for protective clothing.

UV Protection

Wool has a natural UV protection factor of 30+ in more than 70% of cases, much higher than most synthetics or cotton.

Flexability

A wool fibre can be bent back on itself more than 20,000 times without breaking, compared to about 3,000 times for cotton and just 2,000 for silk. This makes woollen fabrics naturally resistant to tearing. Additionally, the outer 'skin' of wool fibre acts as a protective film giving wool cloth improved resistance to abrasions.

Breathable

Wool can easily absorb up to 30% of its weight without feeling damp or clammy. The ability of wool to absorb moisture makes it comfortable in both warm and cold conditions. By absorbing perspiration, wool enhances the body's owl cooling system and helps keep the skin dry. This characteristic make wool a versatile all-season fabric.

Energy Efficient

Wool has good insulation properties and by helping reduce heat transfer through floors, walls and windows. Home woollen furnishings and upholstery can contribute to energy, financial and carbon savings arising in buildings.

Hypoallegenic

Wool is resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew that can trigger allergic reactions in people. Wool also has microscopic pores that respond effectively to changes in humidity making it unfavourable for the growth and breeding of the house dust mite whose allergens are one of the triggers for asthma attacks.

Cleaner Internal Air

Enjoying a unique natural cell structure, wool can work in harmony with its environment. Not only does wool absorb harmful pollutants from the air, it does not re-emit them as it holds them permanently within its core. Its estimated that wool interiors can help purify the air for 30 years.

Colour

Wool absorbs many different dyes deeply and uniformly meaning that wool fabric is available in every shade. these rich colours provide infinite choice and possibilities for the fashion industry.

Easy Care

The outside surface of the wool fibre consists of overlapping scales which means dirt sits on the surface making it extremely easy to remove with a simple vacuuming. The structure also means it does not absorb spills quickly allowing time for them to be easily blotted up.

SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN OUR YORKSHIRE MILL

Zero Waste

we have initiated practices on the production line to move towards a zero waste model of manufacturing. This includes the capture and re-use of loose fibre during both the carding and spinning processes, and bailing-up the selvedge  after weaving to be recycled into isolation and/or carpeting underlay.

Investment

We have invested in better machinery with better energy efficiency, new electric motors for older machinery and LED lighting throughout the factory have been installed as part of our re-investment over the past 5-10 years. Modernised scouring machinery has also seen us reduce our water usage in the past decade.

Green Energy

10% of our total energy is generated by over 300 solar panels installed on the roof of our warehouse & finishing departments. This section of the mill is in fact fully self-sufficient, with any power we don't use being sold back to the national grid.

Single-Use Plastics & Recycling

We're committed to reducing single use plastics throughout the mill. In 2019 we introduced a plastic free packaging option for our full range of woven accessories. Plastic yarn cones and polythene wrapping are both recycled internally. We also recycle cardboard internally, and metal bands from bales are sold to be re-used else where.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

We’ve been working hard in recent years to dramatically reduce our use of plastics, whether that means the sourcing of other more sustainable materials for the purpose or using recycled alternatives.

One of the key areas we have made significant progress is in our warehouse & dispatch departments, where Moon & Bronte by Moon products are stocked and labelled up ready for the end customer.

We’ve developed a wholly plastic free packaging alternative for our interior & fashion accessories; wrapped in recyclable cardboard and appropriately branded for display in-store. This packaging is now our brand standard, cutting out the previous use of poly bags.

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