In a recent interview with Rowena Duncan from The Country, Grant Edwards, the General Manager for PGG Wrightson Wool, shared positive insights into the current state of the wool market. The discussion covered the market's performance at the beginning of the new year, strong competition among wool buyers, and an interesting sustainability experiment conducted at St Johns Primary School in Ranfurly.

Wool market overview:

Grant Edwards started the conversation by highlighting the positive start to the new year in the wool market. Across all crossbred types, there has been a notable uptick, with buyers actively competing to fulfil their orders. Edwards mentioned that the market dynamics are encouraging, with quantities available for sale slightly lower than expected, presenting a challenge for exporters to meet their commitments. Notably, China has been a strong player in the market post-Christmas, contributing to the positive trend. Recent auctions in both the North and South Islands have witnessed strong bidding across all wool types, showcasing the resilience of the auction system.

While expressing optimism, Edwards was careful not to get ahead of himself and emphasised that prices still need to rise considerably from a farmer's perspective. Despite the cautious approach, the acknowledgement of positive market dynamics brings a sense of encouragement to the wool industry.

Sustainability experiment at St Johns primary school:

The interview also touched upon an intriguing science experiment conducted at St Johns Primary School in Ranfurly. Grant Edwards shared details about a five-year experiment supported by local wool representative Graeme Bell. In this experiment, two jerseys were buried – one made of synthetic material and the other a woollen windbreaker from PGG Wrightson.

Over the course of five years, the synthetic jersey showed minimal degradation, missing only the school cotton badge. In stark contrast, the woollen windbreaker exhibited remarkable durability, with only the plastic lining and the zip remaining. This practical experiment provided clear evidence that wool is a champion fibre of sustainability. Such initiatives showcase the long-lasting and environmentally friendly characteristics of wool, reinforcing its position as a sustainable choice in the textile industry.

You can read the full article on the experiment here.