LOVAT MILL - FAMOUSLY GREEN
As the Home of Tweed, Lovat Mill is proud to continue this legacy with sustainability at its core.
At the heart of what they make is wool, considered one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly natural fibres. Wool is nature’s most versatile fibre. It has such a complex combination of properties that no other material, natural or man-made can match it.
Wool - the ultimate natural performance fibre
In essence the production of wool is a beautifully simple process whereby sheep turn the grass into wool, the wool is harvested, then the wool grows back. Where sheep are bred for wool, they are part of the natural carbon cycle, consuming the organic carbon stored in grass and converting it to wool. Wool biodegrades readily on land, or in water, with micro-organisms breaking down the natural fibres. These micro-organisms then break down themselves sustaining a continuous biological life cycle.
The natural qualities of wool mean that it is renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. It is highly durable, with inherent flame-resistant properties and a good level of natural water repellence. It is simply the ultimate natural performance fibre.
The Campaign for Wool
Lovat Mill supports The Campaign for Wool which promotes wool as a precious natural and renewable resource and engages in projects supporting this cause. All of their wool is sourced from certified non-mulesed sheep from farms which adhere to strict animal welfare standards.
Fully Compliant
Lovat Mill work closely with their partners in yarn preparation and all cloth processing complies with REACH regulations and no use of banned AZO dye stuffs.
“Dry” Production
Lovat Mill operates a “dry” production facility with absolutely no adverse impact on the local natural environment. There are no hazardous industrial chemicals used on site and they weave on “environmentally aware” versatile rapier looms. These latest technology looms are built in Europe for sustainable and efficient manufacture of apparel and home textiles.
Renewable energy
With 90% of local electricity consumption coming from renewable sources, negligible emissions and the local highly skilled workforce living mostly within easy walking distance of the mill a minimal carbon footprint is guaranteed.
Recycling
Lovat Mill recycles 100% of its wool waste either through 3rd party industrial re-processing, or by weaving combination yarns into beautiful ‘bothy rugs’ for home furnishings. The company also have a policy of supporting local community and school projects through regular donation of waste cut-offs and weave-ups. They avoid the use of single use plastics wherever possible and only use traditional paper and cardboard packaging.