Wool - the ultimate eco-fibre

Wool is considered the premium eco-friendly carpet fibre for very good reason.  Wool carpets use 100% sustainable wool and have a luxury and warmth that is not easily matched by synthetic and corn/synthetic blend fibres.

Are you really buying 100% sustainable carpet?

There are certainly some glamorous sounding 'eco-bling' fibres in the market but a closer look at their fibre content shows that most are around two-thirds synthetic to one-third corn starch - so not a 100% sustainable or renewable fibre at all, despite what their names may suggest.  The addition of corn content simply makes them less synthetic.   Be sure to ask your carpet retailer for details on the fibre content of any carpet you are thinking about buying.  This should be visible on any sample labels or marketing material.  Wool vs synthetic and synthetic blend carpets

For many people, the key reason to choose wool over synthetic is for its eco-friendly and healthy properties. Cavalier Bremworth's wool carpets, made right here in New Zealand, are 100% sustainable and biodegradable unlike synthetic products which are made from petrochemical products. And all Cavalier Bremworth wool carpets carry Environmental Choice accreditation, meaning we have met best practice environmental standards in its production.

However we accept that both wool and synthetic has strengths and weaknesses that need to be carefully considered when choosing your carpet.  Neither fibre is perfect and a good general rule to follow is that you will get what you pay for in terms of quality and performance.

The table below has been compiled from independent comparisons of wool vs synthetic.

 

Properties	Wool	Synthetic
Environmental friendliness - wool is a 100% natural, renewable, eco-friendly resource that is biodegradable.  Synthetic carpets are derived from a petrochemical source and the corn/synthetic fibre carpets have majority synthetic content.	√
Ability to regulate humidity - ability to absorb & release moisture - regulates atmospheric humidity.  Wool carpet can absorb up to 30% of its own weight without feeling damp.  Synthetics will start to fee damp with only 2-3% moisture.	√
Resilience - The ability of the carpet to resist or recover from crushing.  A unique spiral crimp built into wool fibre gives it natural bounce-back abilities.  Some better quality synthetic carpets with a mix of fibres will reduce the likelihood of them flattening or matting.	√
Abrasion resistance - The ability of the carpet to resist abrasion from very heavy traffic flows.		√
Insulation - the thicker the carpet the better the insulation provided.  Wool carpet can significantly reduce the costs for heating and cooling - in some case by up to 12%.	√
Fire resistance - wool is naturally flame-retardant, so it assists in meeting fire regulations. Synthetic carpet has poor resistance to burning (it melts) and gives off toxic and flammable gases.	√
Appearance retention - the ability of the carpet to maintain its original good looks.  This is very much a case of you get what you pay for - better quality carpets will last longer.	√	√
Stain removal - the ability to resist & remove stains (good quality synthetics will have been treated with stain blocking and anti-soiling chemicals). Prompt attention to spills and stains and regular vacuuming can keep wool carpets looking great for longer.  No carpet fibre is completely stain-resistant, despite the claims made on warranties - read the fine print to see the key exclusions.	√	√
Resistance to soiling - The ability of the carpet to resist general day to day, 'tracked in' soiling.  Wool's scaly structure means that dirt sits more on the surface and can be vacuumed up easily.	√	√
Colourfastness - The ability to resist fading by sunlight.  No carpet, wool or synthetic,  is completely immune from sunlight fade.  We recommend the use of UV filters on windows where possible.		√
Contributes to air purity in buildings - by absorbing & filtering VOC's (volatile organic compounds).	√
Antistatic - Lifetime anti-static guarantee (when anti static chemicals applied).		√
Comfort & ambience - softer feel, natural bulk & resilience.	√