{"id":53174,"date":"2025-12-03T11:10:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/?p=53174"},"modified":"2025-12-03T11:21:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:21:25","slug":"swedish-wool-makes-a-comeback-30-products-point-the-way-to-a-circular-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/en\/news\/swedish-wool-makes-a-comeback-30-products-point-the-way-to-a-circular-industry","title":{"rendered":"Swedish Wool Makes a Comeback \u2013 30 Products Point the Way to a Circular Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More than 30 products and prototypes \u2014 spanning fashion, outdoor, interior design, construction, and gardening \u2014 have been developed by partners in The Swedish Wool Initiative, a national effort built on one shared vision: no Swedish wool should go to waste.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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After years of being discarded as a low\u2013value resource, Swedish wool is gaining new life as a sustainable, circular raw material \u2013 appearing in everything from tailored suits and furniture to building insulation, protective gloves, and garden pellets. Through The Swedish Wool Initiative<\/a><\/strong>, more than 30 products and prototypes have been developed by Swedish companies. A crucial enabler of this progress is the Swedish Wool Standard<\/a><\/strong>, which now makes industrial\u2013scale trade possible.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re beginning to see a breakthrough for Swedish wool at an industrial level.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Johan Sidenmark, Project Manager within Future Materials at Axfoundation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“We\u2019re beginning to see a breakthrough for Swedish wool at an industrial level. By bringing the entire value chain together \u2013 from sheep farmers to finished products \u2013 we\u2019ve shown that Swedish wool can replace imported fibers in everything from fashion to construction materials. This is a step toward improved resource efficiency and a more self\u2013reliant and circular Sweden”, says Johan Sidenmark, Project Manager within Future Materials at Axfoundation.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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From Discarded Byproduct to Resource of the Future<\/h4>\n

Every year, half of all Swedish wool is thrown away despite its unique technical and environmental qualities. To reverse the trend, 20 partners have joined forces in The Swedish Wool Initiative<\/a>. The result is a Swedish wool classification system, new business models, a foundation for improved logistics, and a new generation of products and prototypes where Swedish wool can replace imported fibers.<\/p>\n

New developments include suiting fabrics made from Swedish wool by Tiger of Sweden<\/strong>, and knitted sweaters from Filippa K<\/strong> made with an innovative worsted yarn from Klippan Yllefabrik<\/strong>, spun from wool that previously would have been discarded. The up-and-coming Swedish Textile<\/strong> has also developed new fabric qualities within a fully Swedish value chain: the twill fabric Glint<\/em> and the vadmal fabric Nordvad<\/em>, suitable for both apparel and public interiors.<\/p>\n

For the first time, we\u2019ve used the Swedish Wool Standard to create fabrics entirely from Swedish wool, with true industrial potential. And it works!<\/p>\n

\u2013 Rebecca Josefsson Ulvling, Founder of Swedish Textile<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“For the first time, we\u2019ve used the Swedish Wool Standard to create fabrics entirely from Swedish wool, with true industrial potential. And it works! This allows us to scale production and blend wool from multiple collection stations without compromising quality”, says Rebecca Josefsson Ulvling, Founder of Swedish Textile.<\/p>\n

These fabrics are already being explored in prototypes by for example Oscar Jacobson, TINI, A Day\u2019s March<\/strong>, and Wool Rebel<\/strong>, as well as in furniture concepts for Hotel Diplomat<\/strong> and beds from Wasabedden<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Innovative Construction for Emergency Shelters<\/h4>\n

The construction sector is also exploring ways to harness the potential of wool. Better Shelter <\/strong>is currently testing the use of locally collected wool, both loose and felted, as an insulation layer in emergency shelters. Trials have already taken place in Morocco, and further testing of a felted wool cover combined with tarpaulin will be carried out later this year in collaboration with Axfoundation at Tors\u00e5ker farm<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We believe that using wool as an insulation material can improve thermal comfort in emergency settings, and thus improve the living conditions of displaced people.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Chlo\u00e9 Tiziani, Design Architect at Better Shelter.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“We believe that using wool as an insulation material can improve thermal comfort in emergency settings, and thus improve the living conditions of displaced people. By providing wool directly or by sharing knowledge on how it can be sourced and applied locally, we aim to help displaced communities benefit from a material that is commonly available in many regions”, says Chlo\u00e9 Tiziani, Design Architect at Better Shelter.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Swedish Wool Standard \u2014 The Key to Scalability<\/h4>\n

For Swedish wool to be used industrially, buyers and sellers need a shared language. The new Swedish Wool Standard<\/a> is a type-based classification system; it classifies how the fibre behaves and what it can become, not the breed. This enables buyers and producers to trade and develop products based on quality and function. The standard has already been tested across the entire value chain, from sheep to finished product.<\/p>\n

“The Swedish Wool Standard ensures that the right wool ends up in the right product. It creates precision and opens the door to new levels of trade”, says<\/span>\u00a0Kia Gabrielsson Beer, one of the wool experts involved in its development.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Full List: 30+ Innovative Products and Prototypes Using Swedish Wool<\/h4>\n

Partners in The Swedish Wool Initiative have, in recent years, developed a wide range of products and prototypes across fashion and outdoor, interior design, construction, and gardening.<\/p>\n

Yarn & Textiles<\/strong><\/p>\n