IWTO backs global petition to safeguard wool’s role in EU textile policy

The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) has urged global wool stakeholders to support a new petition launched by Make the Label Count (MTLC), calling on the European Commission to ensure natural fibres like wool are treated fairly in future sustainability policies.

IWTO secretary general and MTLC spokesperson Dalena White emphasised the urgency of the petition, highlighting that despite a temporary halt to the proposed apparel labelling scheme that would have negatively impacted natural fibres, sustained advocacy remains essential. She underlined the need for ongoing engagement with EU policymakers to ensure that wool’s environmental advantages are accurately represented through science-based evaluation criteria.

The EU's sustainability policies often shape global textile standards. With about 25 percent of Australian wool and similar volumes from other producing countries going to Europe, ensuring wool is assessed fairly is critical for protecting wool-grower livelihoods. MTLC recently co-hosted a European Parliament roundtable titled ‘From Farm to Fashion,’ highlighting wool’s role in biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and sustainable land use. These benefits must be recognized in future EU legislation, MTLC asserts.

IWTO is calling on members, partners, and supporters of natural fibres to sign and share the petition. The collective push aims to secure policies that reward truly sustainable, biodegradable, and renewable fibres and challenge the dominance of fast fashion.