Wool. Whether it’s socks, hats or jumpers, generations of Europeans have been kept warm throughout the winter thanks to the fleeces of this continent’s sheep. But with the rise and rise of synthetic materials in the fashion and textile industries, wool’s been losing its popularity in recent years. The knock-on effect has been that wool’s gone from being a valuable resource to a cost-incurring waste by-product for cheese and meat-producing sheep farmers.
So what can be done for wool to return to being a benefit not a burden? The General Assembly of Wool conference, held by Slow Food at Cheese 2025, addressed this issue and I was there.
First broadcast on Inside Europe, DW Radio on 27th November 2025. Rebroadcast 11th December 2025 on The World from PRX.