Wool

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from the fleece of sheep, and less commonly from goats, alpacas, llamas, or rabbits. Consumers encounter wool in clothing such as sweaters, socks, and suits, as well as in blankets, carpets, and upholstery. It is often marketed as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, prized for its warmth, moisture-wicking properties, and flame resistance.

In commercial wool production, sheep are typically bred for high fleece yield and sheared once or twice a year. Shearing itself is a stressful, sometimes injurious process, especially when done hastily or by untrained workers. Beyond shearing, many sheep in the wool industry face mulesing—a painful procedure that removes strips of skin to prevent flystrike—commonly performed without pain relief. Sheep raised for wool are often eventually sent to slaughter for meat, linking the industry directly to animal agriculture.

For consumers, choosing wool means supporting an industry with documented animal welfare concerns, including painful husbandry practices and slaughter. While wool is biodegradable and durable, synthetic alternatives like acrylic or polyester offer similar warmth and are often cheaper, though they shed microplastics. Plant-based options such as organic cotton, hemp, or Tencel provide warmth and breathability without animal involvement, though their environmental footprints vary depending on farming and processing methods.