Back in 1999 Paul Terry, PGG Wrightson Wool rep in the King Country, had a problem with a 400 litre water tank. He used a skivvy made from synthetic textiles to plug a hole in the tank’s drain, therefore retiring the tank. This year Paul’s neighbour needed extra water so Paul decided to start using the water tank again. Taking the skivvy out of the drain, he was amazed to see that it had no signs of rot or biodegradation.

“I washed it, and you could put it on and take your girlfriend out to dinner in it. Even if it came in for rough treatment, it wouldn’t fall to bits,” he says.

Paul reckons the skivvy’s condition underlines the value of wool.

“We wear plastic to keep warm, we have plastic under our feet and in our roof. It is airborne, it is in the mountains and on the beaches. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

“It is the duty of my generation to tell the next generation what we have done, and what we have left them to clear up. We now know the consequences of using fossil fuels in so many products. We are wrecking the world for our kids, and need to take some responsibility for helping them to fix it,” he says.

Needless to say, Paul reckons wool is the answer.

“I’d like to see the government take a more active interest putting the case for natural fibres,” he says.