Medium and strong wool knitted acoustic textile
Project start: 25 November 2022
Project length: 2.5 years
MPI funding: $94,050
Industry funding: $138,860
Industry partner: Studio Alida Limited
Region: Waiheke
This project will design and develop machine knitted acoustic textile products from strong wool for high-end commercial and residential interiors. It will work across the wool value chain including wool grower, design, prototyping and manufacturing, with the goal of supporting the New Zealand strong wool fibre industry.
Woolkin – Naturesclip innovation platform
Project start: 21 August 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $120,000
Industry funding: $180,000
Industry partner: Woolkin
Region: Nationwide
Naturesclip is Woolkin’s natural wool fibre material platform that enables innovative use of wool in 3D products such as children’s toys. This project aims to advance the properties of Naturesclip to enable new product applications.
Wool Impact
Project start: 19 July 2022
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $4,500,000
Industry funding: $6,900,000
Industry partner: Wool Impact
Region: Nationwide
Wool Impact is being set up as an industry service delivery body that seeks to reset the strong wool ecosystem. It will act as a connector and a catalyst to create new demand for New Zealand strong wool to meet the needs of consumers. It will also support the wool ecosystem with core services to help the sector become market fit and responsive to market-led growth and sustainability.
Government backs action to drive strong wool growth – Government media release
Project WOW – Walk on Wool
Project start: 29 June 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $250,000
Industry funding: $375,000
Industry partner: Wools of New Zealand Limited Partnership
Region: Nationwide
Working in collaboration with leading architects and designers, this project aims to develop a sustainable strong wool carpet tile that will meet both New Zealand and international building standards and environmental credentials. It aims to provide a natural alternative to the commercial building sector, which relies predominantly on nylon and polyester fibres.
Strong wool-based adhesive bandage – Stage 2
Project start: 13 May 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $191,064
Industry funding: $296,597
Industry partner: Newcul Ltd
Region: Nationwide
This project will refine the strong wool-based bandage prototype to make it suitable for manufacturing in a scaled-up environment. It will conduct further consumer trials, testing and market research.
Commercial scalability trial of wool-based materials for reusable and disposable nappies
Project start: 2 May 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $169,600
Industry funding: $254,400
Industry partner: Woolchemy NZ Ltd
Region: Nationwide
In a previous SFF Futures project, Woolchemy worked with overseas nappy manufacturers to see if neweFlex, their sustainable wool material developed for personal care products, could be produced at scale using existing manufacturing technology. This new project will work on optimising manufacturing of neweFlex wool material to the desired thickness required by nappy producers and subsequent commercial testing. Woolchemy will also develop a pilot plant for washable absorbent wool textiles to enable scaled-up consumer trials and determine commercial viability.
Woolchemy Raises $1.5m in Seed Round – Woolchemy
Wisewool: Wool bud and needle punched blanketing innovation
Project start: 8 April 2022
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $790,000
Industry funding: $1,185,000
Industry partner: Allwool Limited
Region: Gisborne
This project seeks to innovate traditional wool knops to increase the ingredient’s market potential. Woollen buds or knops are wool fibres that have been processed to form small, light, fluffy balls. When used in large quantities as a filler ingredient (such as in woollen mattresses), these knops increase the bounce-back and compression resilience of the fibre.
Wool project aims to put money back in farmers’ pockets – MPI media release
NZ cashmere – sustainably beautiful
Project start: 4 April 2022
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $900,000
Industry funding: $1,340,000
Industry partner: New Zealand Cashmere GP Ltd
Region: Gisborne, Otago
This project aims to develop a new high-value, sustainable, and innovative cashmere industry for New Zealand’s agricultural and textile sectors.
Three-year cashmere scheme launches - Otago Daily Times
Floc wool panels
Project start: 1 April 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $303,200
Industry funding: $432,300
Industry partner: T&R Interior Systems Limited
Region: Nationwide
This project will accelerate development of a strong wool acoustic wall panel as an environmentally friendly alternative to existing products made from synthetic materials.
Acoustic wool panels the latest innovation for New Zealand strong wool – Government media release
Hemp – developing a sustainable natural fibre industry
Project start: 24 November 2021
Project length: 5 years
MPI funding: $1,341,564
Industry funding: $2,012,345
Industry partner: NZ Natural Fibres
Region: Canterbury
This comprehensive programme will investigate all aspects of the production of hemp fibre in New Zealand. It will focus on plant genetics, agronomics, product innovation and market development, with the aim of elevating New Zealand onto the world stage of industrial hemp.
Funding of hemp fibre innovation set to propel New Zealand on to world stage – MPI media release
Repositioning New Zealand’s strong wool industry
Project start: 22 July 2021
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $1,948,000
Industry funding: $2,922,000
Industry partner: Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand
Region: Nationwide
This project builds on over 10 years of market-led research into finding new, high-value uses for strong wool. It aims to take lab-scale products that have been developed through to pilot-scale production, while engaging with potential markets and customers to take the products to market.
Media release: WRONZ launches Wool Source – WoolResearch
Enhancing the wellbeing of people and the planet through sustainable wool products
Project start: 1 January 2021
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $1.9 million
Industry funding: $3 million
Industry partner: Bremworth
Region: Nationwide
This project is supporting the research and development of natural and green chemistry-based alternatives to the few remaining synthetic components used in woollen carpets. It aims to spur demand for New Zealand strong wool and enhance our manufacturing competitiveness with high-value wool products that are better for the planet.
