Chips, crisps, hashbrowns, vodka – the humble potato is one of the world’s most versatile staples, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that it can also be used to create sustainable plant wool.
Potato yarn transforms agricultural waste (potato stems and leaves) into a durable and soft fabric with a diameter similar to polyester or cotton. Because of its resilience and fibre strength, it lends itself to similar applications as sheep’s wool, while being eco-friendly and cruelty-free.
Right now, potato wool is in its infancy. Still, UK-based company Fibe is pioneering potato wool via a non-toxic, scalable process that requires 96% less water and 90% less land than conventional cotton production.
Given that producing one kilogram of cotton already generates far less CO2 equivalent than producing the same amount of sheep’s wool, this means potatoes have the potential to replace sheep’s wool as an incredibly eco-friendly knit. #
Read more: Discover Crop Plant Wools
