Waste wool represents a significant challenge in the Baltic Sea Region. In Estonia, more than 90% of wool is discarded, while in Finland over 50% of wool ends up as waste, primarily originating from sheep-shearing farms. Wool is often treated as a by-product, and identifying new applications for it could encourage producers to improve raw material quality and reduce waste generation.
Textile recycling is currently stagnating due to low demand for sorted materials. At the EU level, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are being developed, but their implementation will take time. As a result, Finland’s national textile sorting operator is discontinuing collection activities, despite having processed nearly 90% of all textiles directed to recycling in 2023. Estonia lacks comparable infrastructure, and sorted wool textiles have been supplied from Finland.
Improving the efficiency of the circular value chain is essential. Upcoming EU regulations will bring significant changes, making it urgent to identify viable applications for recycled fibres. In 2023, LSJH Oy collected 1,783 tonnes of end-of-life textiles, of which wool accounted for 0.89% (6,182 kg). Wool was collected separately due to its potential for further valorisation. Although the objective is high-value recycling, many wool textiles are not recycled in practice. For example, worn wool socks could be repurposed as sorbent materials. Wool’s self-cleaning properties also enable the recycling of washed and discarded wool products.
There is a pressing need for sustainable sorbents for oil spill response and remediation. Polypropylene absorbents, which are currently widely used, degrade under harsh weather conditions and release harmful microplastics into the environment. HELCOM recommends limiting their use because they generate substantial amounts of waste. Organic waste fibres, particularly wool, offer a more sustainable alternative. Research has shown that wool-based sorbents outperform polypropylene in terms of sustainability and waste impact. Wool possesses a high oil absorption capacity (Kettunen, 2023), but successful implementation depends on practical product design. Developing organic oil-spill response products from waste and recycled wool supports circular economy objectives while helping to reduce wool waste streams.
Partners: LAB- University of Applied Sciences (Finland), XAMK (Finland), MTÜ Muhumaalammas (Estonia)
Period: 2026-2029
Funding: Interreg CB
