The ZDHC Foundation has officially become a member of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), marking a significant step toward deeper collaboration between chemical management initiatives and the global wool textile industry.
The move strengthens engagement between ZDHC and a globally recognised body that represents stakeholders across the entire wool value chain from wool growers and processors to manufacturers, brands and retailers.
It also reflects the growing importance of coordinated action on sustainability, chemical safety and environmental performance across natural fibre supply chains.
Wool and other natural fibres remain essential to global textile production, valued for their performance, renewability and versatility. However, their processing from scouring and dyeing to finishing requires the use of various chemical inputs.
Ensuring responsible chemical management is therefore critical to safeguarding workers’ health, protecting local communities and minimising environmental impacts.
Through its IWTO membership, ZDHC will bring its expertise in safer chemistry, pollution prevention and supply-chain accountability into sector-wide discussions within the wool industry.
This collaboration aims to improve alignment between fibre-specific initiatives and the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme, supporting more consistent environmental practices across materials, regions and manufacturing stages.
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Working alongside IWTO members, ZDHC will contribute to dialogue, knowledge sharing and the development of practical, scalable approaches to sustainability.
The partnership emphasises prevention-based chemical management, shared responsibility across the value chain and the integration of chemical safety into broader environmental and social goals.
The collaboration also highlights the need for cross-sector alignment, recognising that meaningful progress in sustainability requires cooperation across fibre types, production stages and geographic markets.
Commenting on the development, Smita Bait, Senior Technical Manager – Fibres and Materials at ZDHC, said:“With over 14 years of experience working closely with wool fibres, I continue to see wool as one of nature’s most remarkable technical fibres.
Its unique morphology offers outstanding performance, yet its processing demands thoughtful and responsible chemical management to preserve its natural sustainability benefits.
By joining IWTO, ZDHC is strengthening collaboration across the wool value chain to advance safer chemistry, pollution prevention and shared responsibility.
This partnership reflects our belief that meaningful progress in sustainability comes through collective action and practical alignment across the supply chain.”
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The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) is the globally recognised trade body for the wool textile industry. Its membership spans the full value chain, including wool growers, traders, processors, manufacturers, brands and retailers.
IWTO plays a central role in supporting the responsible production and use of wool through international standards development, industry research, market intelligence and policy engagement.
Beyond technical and commercial activities, IWTO provides a platform for collaboration on sustainability, animal welfare and responsible production practices.
By convening stakeholders from different regions and stages of production, IWTO works to align approaches and address shared challenges facing the wool sector.
By joining IWTO, ZDHC aims to contribute to ongoing industry efforts to integrate robust chemical management with broader sustainability objectives. The partnership is expected to support responsible practices that benefit people, ecosystems and supply-chain partners—not only within the wool sector, but across the wider textile and apparel industry.
