Earth Day - 2022
The 22nd April is Earth Day. This gives us a great yearly reminder of the very small lifestyle changes we can all make to collectively help protect the environment. This is the perfect day to delve deeper into some environmental advantages of wool.
Here at The Slipper Box we care deeply about the environment and are always looking for ways to lessen our impact on the natural world. From the eco-friendly wool, we use to make our wool slippers, to the very short carbon footprint we have for our wool moccasin slippers which are made in a factory just 4 miles away. Sustainability is really important to us. With every strand woven right here in Britain, you're buying local and helping keep the tradition of weaving alive with every purchase.
So, Is Wool Environmentally Friendly?
There’s a lot of discussion surrounding wool when it comes to sustainability, so we thought we’d share why it is the perfect eco-friendly choice for your next pair of slippers.
Wool is a natural and renewable material
Unlike synthetic fibres that are man-made wool is completely natural.
Wool fibres are biodegradable and, at the end of their life, they release valuable nutrients back into the earth acting as a fertiliser for plants and crops. With synthetic fibres, these can remain in the ground for hundreds of years with no positive benefit. We know you won't be throwing your Slipper Box wool slippers away any time soon but, if you did, rest assured the wool would completely biodegrade in as little as 3-4 months.
Wool cloth uses less water and energy to make than cotton and synthetics
On average, wool fabric uses 18% less energy than polyester, and almost 70% less water than cotton to produce as many as 100 garments. As wool makes such a low impact on the environment during its creation, it’s one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics around.
Wool comes from sheep that roam freely
Animal welfare is a big concern when it comes to sustainability, which is why we work with tanneries and suppliers that share our values. The wool used for each and every one of our wool slippers comes from sheep that roam freely.
Wool lasts longer than synthetic fibres and cotton
Research shows that the average life span of wool is 50% longer than that of cotton. Wool products need to be washed much less than synthetic fibres due to their natural odour resisting properties. Longer life means that not only do your wool slippers last longer, but the carbon footprint created by maintaining them is lower than with other materials.
It's Eco-Friendly to Buy British-Made?
By making the majority of our wool slippers in Britain or Europe our products have a much lower carbon footprint than many that arrive from the other side of the world. By making the vast majority of our wool moccasins here in Somerset we are helping to keep this traditional industry alive and supportive of local jobs and the local economy. Buying local is an eco-friendly choice and a small way you can make a big difference. We do hope you enjoy the wonderful benefits that Wool provides.
John
