Woolcool®: The Unconventional Insulator

Wool has generally fallen out of fashion as a fabric, but has always been renowned for its ability to retain heat. Although it goes against intuition, using wool to insulate fresh produce has revolutionised the sustainable packaging industry - and indeed for us! 

At The Organic Butchery we have always pledged to prioritise implementing the most sustainable methods -from our farm to our production line- in a bid to deliver the highest quality, most delicious and most responsible produce for our customers, and our packaging is no different. 

“In the last year alone, companies who use Woolcool® products have saved over 1,670 tonnes of polystyrene insulation from landfill” - Woolcool®.com

How is Sheeps' Wool Good at Insulating Food?

We acknowledge that using 100% Sheep’s wool to regulate temperature may seem peculiar. However, for us, finding something natural, with sustainable credibility was a no brainer - this combined with extensive testing to ensure our meat reaches you in 'sheep' shape - has led our decision to use Woolcool® lining in all of our future orders. Wool fibres are breathable and excellent for managing moisture, meaning that your orders are efficinetly insulated from our farm, to your door. Woolcool® is made up of pure and simple materials; so those nasties we all know (and hate) are kept at bay - we believe truly organic produce deserves truly organic packaging. 

Why is Using Sheeps' Wool in Our Packaging a More Sustainable Option?

As a sustainable business, it is important to consider not only how we source product, but also how it is disposed of; most businesses rely on polystyrene boxes and foil insulation to keep their produce cool, but these landfill destined options are simply not for us. We already know some of the benefits of wool; rearing our own flocks of Sheep with wonderfully-volumous fleeces, all of our shearing waste is repurposed by our Devon based friends at NaturalMat® to create luxury, organic mattresses.

Woolcool® is derived  from British sheep, as a by-product of shearing. The natural properties of the wool make it very easy to dispose of, through widely accessible recycling chains, it is also fully decomposable over a period of 6-12 months.

However, often Wools’ true potential is overlooked; it can be reused in a multitude of creative ways, from your home to your garden - some of which we couldn’t wait to share with you... 

How Can Woolcool® be Reused/Recyled?

Re-using your Woolcool®:

For the thrifty upcyclers, wool makes an excellent filler for soft furnishings and reupholstery, or for the sewing fanatics, its thermal capacities are a welcomed addition to line backpacks, bedding, boots and hats/gloves.

Many of us have an extra family member: the pampered pet that we love to spoil… Sheep’s wool is the ultimate cosy bedding; adding extra snug to crates & cages, enjoyed by Hamsters and Rabbits to make comfortable dens, or a calm, secure spot for Hens to lay their eggs. Or even leave out for wild Birds to collect for their nests.

It even has its use for the avid DIYers and garden enthusiasts; wool can be wrapped around outdoor pipes in those colder months to prevent freezing, make a superb lining for flower beds, or an agreeable addition to your compost heap.

Recycling your Woolcool®:

If you can't find a way to reuse your Woolcool® it can be easily disposed of. Simply take the wool out of the film and compost it, or place it in general waste where it will break down within a few months. Recycle the plastic film in the same way as carrier bags.