A surfboard made with a layer of 33-micron wool in place of fibreglass, and covered with a resin, was just one of the items made from New Zealand wool on display at the Amberley A&P Show last month.
The wool display, organised by Cheviot farmer Lynda Dickson and run in conjunction with North Canterbury Veterinary Clinics, was a chance to demonstrate the versatility of wool.
The Firewire surfboard and wool coffins greeted visitors as they entered the marquee.
While the surfboard was made from merino wool, the coffins were made from strong wool, showing that even lower-micron fleeces have multiple uses.
"We just need to keep getting the word out there that it’s renewable and we keep growing it every year," Mrs Dickson said.
"And it breaks down at the end of its life cycle, so you can put your pure wool products in the garden at the end of its life and it breaks down and puts nutrients back into the soil."
This was in contrast to synthetics such as polar fleece and plastic products, which could take centuries to break down.
"This is what is clogging up our seas and our oceans at the moment," she said, pointing to a display of used plastics.
"By 2050 there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish, which is pretty scary. Humans have made 25,000 Empire State Buildings worth of plastics and only 5% is recycled.
"And to make one metre of synthetic carpet it takes two litres of oil."
While many of the products on display were made overseas, she hoped it would not deter people from switching to wool.
"Some people will see a product that’s made overseas, but it’s probably made with New Zealand wool.
Also on display was wool in its different stages, from freshly shorn greasy wool to wool spun into a yarn.
There were various wool fabrics, woollen carpets, pure wool mattresses made in Cheviot, blankets, duvets, underlays, clothing, shoes, new items mixing hemp fibre and wool together, tennis balls, yoga mats, acoustic insulation, shoe inner soles, wool plasters, face masks and children’s clothing.
