PRINCE CHARLES SPEARHEADS DRIVE FOR WOOL
19th April 2010
HRH Prince Charles is leading a campaign to re-establish wool as the premier fibre. The five year project embraces fashion, upholstery and insulation as well as carpet and is designed to encourage greater use of wool.
The campaign already has global support from, among others, the Australian Wool Industry, New Zealand Wool, the British Wool Marketing Board, the American Wool Association and that of Canada.
Since 70% of all wool grown in the UK goes into carpet, the Carpet Foundation is an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative and is playing a key role on the steering committee. The highlight of the first year is a Wool Week which runs from October 11th – 17th and which will see major high street brands including Aquascutum, Debenhams, Jigsaw and John Lewis promoting wool in-store with POSM. There will also be an intensive PR campaign to thrust wool into the public consciousness.
Commenting on the initiative, Carpet Foundation Chief Executive Mike Hardiman said: “Prince Charles has long been concerned about the low prices that farmers receive for fleeces and indeed first came up with the idea on receipt of his wool cheque.
The carpet industry consumes the most wool so naturally this is a move we welcome and we will be doing everything we can to ensure it is a success. We are looking at various ways of capitalising upon it and our manufacturers are right behind it – who wouldn’t be! We will be undertaking phase 2 of our Lifecycle Assessment soon and there are several other ideas in the pipeline. This has to be good news for UK based manufacturers who produce predominantly wool rich carpet.”
For further information, please contact:
Mike Hardiman
Chief Executive
The Carpet Foundation
MCF Complex
60 New Road
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY10 1AQ
t. 01562 755 568
e. michaelhardiman@carpetfoundation.com
