Backpacker Magazine – October 2008

Green Scene: Eco-Friendly Wool

Learn how you can shop for ethical, eco-friendly wool to lighten your planetary load.

by: BACKPACKER Editors

Like to shop at the farmers' market so you can meet the green thumb who grew your tomatoes? Now you can do the same with high-performance merino wool. This fall, Icebreaker launches its Baa Code program. Each Icebreaker garment has a serial number that you can type into icebreaker.com to track the merino used in your apparel to the farm it came from. Online, you'll find video, maps, and photos about Icebreaker's wool sourcing, sheep-to-shirt processing, and sustainability efforts. Also this fall, look for the Zque "Ethical Wool" label on brands like SmartWool and Ibex. It certifies the use of best industry practices in areas like animal welfare and stewardship of both the land and farming communities.

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