Elders Primary Wool has announced a further step towards increasing the return for its strong-wool growers reports Scoop. Elders has negotiated a world-wide exclusive option for traceability technology to track the origin of wool used in carpets from VTT Marketing Limited an Auckland based venture capital company drawing on technology developed by AgResearch's textile division at Lincoln. The product is currently undergoing commercial testing with international carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst. If testing proves successful, Elders plans to immediately deploy the technology in carpets made with NZ wool. The tracing technology has the potential to ensure a carpet buyer can actually see the carpet includes NZ wool - a sustainable and environmentally friendly fibre. With the majority of the strong wool produced in NZ used in carpets, the technology has the potential to add substantial value to the benefit of NZ wool growers. Many carpet manufacturers have been claiming to use NZ wool due to its superior qualities, however there is currently no way to verify wool content. As a result NZ growers have been missing out. This technology will allow Elders to differentiate their wool and maximise its value. "We are pleased to be working with Elders in testing this technology. The majority of high quality carpet manufactures prefer wool in their carpets and this system will ensure the integrity of the supply chain for the whole industry," says John Sheffield, Vice President, Godfrey Hirst USA. "In the US we have an industry standard for carpet sustainability and traceability "“ which is a marketable asset if you meet it.
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