Woolmark is inviting global brands to the land Down Under for a program developing an insetting framework looking to reduce the industry’s supply chain emissions through “nature-based solutions.”
The fiber promotion organization scored a $4 million AUD (about $2.6 million) grant from the Australian government to begin this insetting initiative, a key component of its Woolmark+ roadmap.
In fact, the grant hinges on the Australian merino wool marketer’s recently launched “nature positive” program. As part of its Australian Wool Industry Insetting Programme, the initiative consists of 13 science-based targets designed to deliver practical solutions across the entire wool value chain. They are intended to advance regeneration, reduce emissions and increase productivity.
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“We want to offer woolgrowers an option and brands a solution that allows emissions reductions to remain within the textile supply chain,” said John Roberts, Woolmark’s managing director. “Brands are increasingly seeking ways to address their Scope 3 emissions, but scaling these efforts has been a challenge.”
Those challenges refer to the barriers that woolgrowers face when attempting to drop greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking shape as a “lack of guidance on best practices, upfront capital and market engagement,” per the marketing arm of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). If those challenges can be circumvented, the initiative will give those woolgrowers “some of the tools needed” to sustainably manage the 65 million-plus hectares of Australian land.
“Insetting presents an exciting opportunity for brands to meet their emissions targets in a way that aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) while simultaneously supporting Australian woolgrowers,” Roberts said. “We’re grateful to the Australian government for their support of this game-changing initiative.”
The strategic partnership between Woolmark, Pollination and Landcare Australia creates a “comprehensive approach” to implement, report and scale insetting. In turn, woolgrowers can reduce on-farm GHG emissions by implementing “nature-based solutions” on the farm level. A “key element,” Woolmark said, will be creating a “mechanism” connecting brands with Australian woolgrowers for that farm-level reduction, lowering Scope 3 emissions across the value chain in turn.
Helping woolgrowers understand their “opportunities in emerging environmental markets” and providing on-ground implementation support for environmental plantings, per Landcare Australia’s CEO Dr. Shane Norrish, will reduce emissions while boosting biodiversity within the wool value chain.
For Pollination, the project will “lay the foundation” for scalable and “high-integrity” emissions reductions that can deliver both “environmental and economic benefits for Australian woolgrowers,” according to the climate change investment and advisory firm’s director Lara Phillips, by supporting “nature-based solutions” such as environmental plantings and best-practice flock management.
Funded through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the National Heritage Trust, the Australian Wool Insetting Program is actively seeking participation from Australian woolgrowers and global fashion and textile brands.
