Why Wool?

Wool is our passion, one that we have been working with for over 185 years. As such, we make every effort to ensure that our raw wool is sourced only from reputable sources. It is one of the oldest materials used by humankind for textiles. It is an incredibly eco-friendly fibre with impressive inherent properties, making it versatile in fabrics and superior to synthetic alternatives. Such inherent properties are:

• 100% Renewable and Biodegradable. Wool is a completely natural material—grown on sheep on a simple blend of grass, water, and sunlight—which can be composted and re-absorbed back into the soil.
• Naturally thermoregulating due to a unique structure that promotes cooling when it gets too hot and retains warmth when it gets too cold.
• Odour Resistant.
• Easy to Care for, as dirt can often be easily wiped away from its outer layer.
• Naturally Fire-Retardent due to its high nitrogen content, making it suitable for commercial spaces.

Responsible Sourcing & Traceability

RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) since 2022

• Abraham Moon and Sons Ltd is certified to the Responsible Wool Standard, certified by Control Union (CB-CUC- 1309483).
• The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) verifies wool animal fibre welfare and land management requirements and tracks it from farm to final product.

Wool Integrity NZTM

• WINZ certified wool is fully traceable to farm via robust systems and record-keeping.
• Only wool from farmers who adhere to the PGG Wrightson Integrity Program qualify for the Wool Integrity NZTM brand.
• 100% WINZ branded scoured wool products are eligible to carry the WINZ logo.

British Wool

Through British Wool, we are able to trace all acquired wool to any one of the 35,000 farms. This has allowed us to create a socially responsible and ethical product that is 100% British-made from fibre to finish.

• British wool is a farming cooperative owned by approx. 35,000 sheep farmers within the UK.
• Wool acquired through British Wool has been hand-graded to ensure consistent quality and ensuring it meets stringent Welfare Standards.

Animal Welfare

5 Freedoms

The Five Freedoms have been in place since the late-1900s. They consist of five principles committed to ensuring that all animals, including lifestock, are given a quality of life which prioritises their welfare.

We ensure the wool that we resource comes from reputable sources who uphold the integrity of their wool by adhering to these principles.

These Five Freedoms are as follows:

• Freedom from thirst, hunger, and malnutrition.
• Freedom from discomfort and exposure.
• Freedom from pain, injury, and disease.
• Freedom from fear and distress.
• Freedom to express normal behaviour.

Made in England Under One Roof

Our Leeds-based historic woollen mill is a vertical operation, meaning that the layout of departments ensures an efficient movement of material through the mill.

We are able manage every process of fabric production in this one site alone, from the raw wool, to the production of yarn, to weaving the fabric, to finishing the final product.

Our Manufacturing Approach

Process

• Challenge how we make our cloth.
• Gathering data to set baseline targets for our carbon footprint and efficiencies with the aim of making continual improvements year on year.
• Waste management/circularity.

Although our heritage forms a significant part of our narrative, we recognise the impacts that our historic mill could pose if not carefully managed.

2024 saw the beginning of our Carbon Roadmap journey, with a three-part plan in scope to develop a clear strategic framework to measure and better manage our environmental footprint. This continues to be a key pillar in our strategy moving forward as a vertical mill.

Environmental Standards

Restricted Substances

• Regulations such as REACH and POP regulate the use of dangerous chemicals known as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
• Moon is compliant with the regulations through regular testing of our products and the management of our supply chain.

HIGG INDEX

• The Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) is a sustainability assessment tool of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). The Higg Index is an apparel and footwear industry self-assessment standard to rate environmental and social sustainability throughout the supply chain.

ZDHC

• Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Certification and Testing Programs.
• The ZDHC Supplier Platform helps Suppliers to manage chemicals, water and energy by providing validation, an overview of progress, and supporting continuous improvements.
• We have been annually collecting clearstream reports since 2022 on our wastewater.

Certifications & Partnerships

Woolmark accredited for 10+ years

• Guarantee of the quality of woollen products through routine wool product testing to ensure The Woolmark Company’s standards of performance are met. These cover performance, durability and quality.

Better Cotton Initiative since 2020

• Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a global not-for-profit, is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. BCI aims to transform cotton production worldwide, by addressing the negative impacts of cotton growing and processing.
• Any cotton we use is responsibly sourced.