New Technology Could Verify NZ Wool Content
Auckland, New Zealand, April 28, 2009--Elders Primary Wool has announced a further step towards increasing the return for its strong-wool growers.
Elders has negotiated a world-wide exclusive option for traceability technology to track the origin of wool used in carpets from VTT Marketing Limited, an Auckland based venture capital company drawing on technology developed by AgResearch’s textile division at Lincoln.
The product is currently undergoing commercial testing with international carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst. If testing proves successful, Elders plans to immediately deploy the technology in carpets made with New Zealand wool.
The tracing technology has the potential to ensure a carpet buyer can actually see the carpet includes New Zealand wool. With the majority of the strong wool produced in New Zealand used in carpets, the technology has the potential to add substantial value to the benefit of New Zealand wool growers.
Many carpet manufacturers have been claiming to use New Zealand wool due to its superior qualities, however there is currently no way to verify wool content. This technology will allow Elders to differentiate their wool and maximise its value.
“We are pleased to be working with Elders in testing this technology. The majority of high quality carpet manufactures prefer wool in their carpets and this system will ensure the integrity of the supply chain for the whole industry,” says John Sheffield, vice president, Godfrey Hirst USA.
“In the US we have an industry standard for carpet sustainability and traceability – which is a marketable asset if you meet it. There is no current technology that reliably allows us to meet this standard for wool, which makes this product extremely valuable. If this technology transfers to large carpet volumes this will guarantee that the quality New Zealand wool placed in carpets will not be degraded with other fibre or lesser quality wool.”
Elders believes that this technology is one way in which the Elders strong-wool initiative will ensure a premium price from the carpet purchaser, which will then flow down the value chain to their growers.
The tracer technology has been developed by AgResearch at Lincoln in partnership with an Australian company. To date, the technology has been used to authenticate clothes labels for the luxury apparel industry.
The technology is invisible to the eye and has no discernable effect on the textile’s properties
Elders, CCA Global Partners and their U.S. carpet manufacturers intend to take the technology further by blending a tiny fibre into carpet wool, something which can be achieved at any stage along the value chain.
New Zealand wool, supplied by Elders, will have its own “signature,” which will be picked up by hand held readers used at CCA Global stores and at various locations along the manufacturing process.