A partnership between the Government and industry will help turn New Zealand's strong wool into high-value cutting-edge products and boost returns for growers.
Through the Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF), the Government will be contributing NZD 8 million to the NZD 20 million project led by Wool Source Manufacturing Limited to scale up production of wool-derived particles, powders and pigments for use in products such as inks, 3D printing materials, personal care, bioplastics and textiles.
This project aims to transform New Zealand's strong wool into premium ingredients for growing global markets, creating new opportunities for the sector. It will establish a million-kilogram-per-year manufacturing facility in Christchurch to demonstrate the technology at scale, support customer trials, and enable early commercial production.
Wool Source transforms wool into fine particles while retaining its performance benefits, enabling it to be used in versatile, bio-based materials. These products provide new functionality or replace existing ingredients with a renewable, ethically sourced alternative. The end markets being targeted are collectively worth more than NZD 50 billion globally.
The programme builds on earlier Government-supported work that demonstrated the technology's commercial viability and helped establish strong international demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil-fuel-derived materials.
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson said that Wool Source Manufacturing Limited has already achieved its first high-volume commercial sale, exporting wool particles to a Japanese personal care manufacturer, with higher-value powders and pigments expected to follow.
“This investment will help speed the technology to market so farmers can see the benefits sooner.”
The project has the potential to redirect up to 20 percent of New Zealand’s strong wool clip into higher-value applications over time.
“This is about unlocking the full potential of wool, lifting farmgate returns, supporting rural communities, and building a more resilient and sustainable sector.”
More local news here
