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Excellent

Material Deep Dive

Recycled Wool

Recycled wool scores highly because recycled feedstock removes the high-impact sheep farming and initial scouring stages, while the fiber remains naturally biodegradable and microplastic-free.

Animal

Recycled

End of Life

~1 year

95/100
Chemical Use

Low

80/100
Pollution

Low

80/100
Water Usage

30 L/kg

100/100
Carbon Footprint

0.63 kg CO₂/kg

97/100
Considerations

Recycling shortens the fibres, which can affect durability and often requires blending

May inherit dyes or finishes from its previous life, limiting some uses

Quality varies depending on the source material

Recycling facilities are concentrated in certain regions, adding transport impacts

Strengths

Dramatically lower carbon footprint than virgin wool—avoids all the farming emissions

Uses almost no water compared to raising sheep

Fully biodegradable and won't shed plastic microfibres

Diverts old wool garments from landfill into something new

Look for GRS certification for verified recycled content

Carbon Footprint Analysis

97/100

Recycled Wool produces approximately 0.63 kg CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of fiber.

The Data

Carbon Footprint

0.63 kg CO₂/kg

FSI Carbon Score

97/100

Sources: Higg Materials Sustainability Index, Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber Report

Sustainability Breakdown

Microplastic risk

None

Care level

Moderate

Available certifications

Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN

Key properties

warm, insulating, breathable, moisture-regulating, odor-resistant, flame-resistant, elastic, durable, biodegradable, low-impact compared to virgin wool

Common uses

knitwear, sweaters, coats, suiting, blankets, accessories, outerwear, scarves

Also known as

reclaimed wool, mechanically recycled wool, MWool®, shoddy, regenerated wool

Recycled Wool quick guide

Last updated: December 2025

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