Biogenic Carbon Flows On-Farm Significantly Reduce Wool Production Emissions
Breakthrough research shows biogenic accounting can reduce wool’s emission intensity by up to 102%. International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) has released the following article relating to how we account for Carbon.
Groundbreaking research published in Agricultural Systems provides a comprehensive new systems-based framework for assessing wool’s environmental impact, demonstrating that when biogenic carbon flows are accounted for, wool’s net emissions are significantly reduced when compared to an emissions-only approach.
This study applied the ISO 14067:2018 standard, which specifically recognizes the
difference between fossil and biogenic carbon emissions, something current eco-impact tools are unable to distinguish.
Using six previously published wool production case studies, the researchers re
estimated the carbon footprints to include biogenic factors. They found that wool’s
carbon intensity is reduced by between 39% and 102% depending on the scenario, when biogenic flows are included.
By including biogenic carbon in assessments, a truer, more balanced understanding of emissions is revealed. Wool’s actual climate impact, the authors conclude, is far lower than commonly assumed.
“This publication in Agricultural Systems represents a watershed moment for the wool industry,’ said Dalena White, Secretary General of the IWTO.
“For too long, wool has been assessed using methods designed for factories, not
biological systems. This peer-reviewed research, with a methodology independently verified by the globally recognized certifications body TÜV SÜD, demonstrates that wool’s true environmental impact is far lower than is widely reported.”
The Science Behind the Story
Conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed for linear industrial processes where materials flow in one direction. Wool production, in contrast, operates within natural carbon cycles where sheep graze on plants that have captured atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis. The research reveals that more than 50% of carbon ingested by wool sheep is returned to earth as manure, supporting soil health and carbon sequestration. Current environmental assessment models ignore these flows.
The new research applies international standard ISO14067, which explicitly recognises and encourages accounting for biogenic carbon flows, emissions, and removals, and provides guidance on how this should be addressed within a LCA context. The standard is indicative of a change in thinking that is taking place which recognizes the fundamental difference of the “natural,” or terrestrial, component of agriculture, compared a factory production line.
“The implications extend beyond wool,” White added. “All ruminant and photosynthesis based industries face similar challenges with current accounting methods. This research opens pathways for more accurate environmental assessment across agricultural sectors.”
Source: IWTO and NZWTA