BBIA member Woolcool has been recognised by a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. Set up in 2009, Woolcool has created a packaging innovation for the transport of temperature-sensitive items from the food and pharmaceutical sectors, using wool in place of polystyrene, bubble wrap, gel packs or other non-recyclable insulating materials.
The packaging is made of 100 per cent felted sheep’s wool, a by-product from the necessary shearing process, which is then washed, scoured and sealed within a perforated polyethylene wrap. The wool is renewable and biodegradable, releasing nitrates back into the soil when composted, and can also be reused in a variety of ways including for home insulation, car lining or pet bedding.
“We’ve invested heavily in R&D and worked with a number of UK universities to analyse how wool works at a microscopic level,” said Managing Director Josie Morris. “Rigorous testing to international industry standards in our own environmental chambers, supported by independent trials, consistently proves that wool fibres are effective at absorbing moisture from the air, which minimises humidity and condensation to maintain stable temperatures.”
Angela Morris, Woolcool founder and CEO, added: “We are delighted and proud to have achieved the Queen’s Award… This award will reinforce the vital role that natural materials can play in meeting the environmental challenges that face the planet, both now and in the future.”