Kiwi keratin-based wool company signs first major international deal

A company developing protein-based products from de-constructed wool is hailing another milestone in its journey to commercialisation.

Wool Source has been working with strong-wool based proteins for several years.

The resulting particles and pigments can be used in cosmetics, personal care items like shampoo and dyes needed to colour anything from fabric to cars.

Wool Source has just signed its first international customer with a reasonable order for the wool-based protein keratin to be used in personal care products.

Chief executive Tom Hooper said it has been good to get the deal over the line and it looks as though it will be repeat business.

He wasn't prepared to name the company but said it was a "sizeable customer with reasonable orders for particles".

"We've been working with them for three years. It's been a process of improving our credibility, proving the product, having them store the product to make sure they understand that it will last well enough and then using it in their production process. So there's been a a whole heap of stage gates that we've worked our way through and we're now at the point of commercial supply.

"They're using the particles in a hydrolysed keratin product... there's a whole heap of different potential uses, mostly in the personal care space."

Hooper said Wool Source is working with other customers, predominantly Europe, but also North America and some in Asia, and they have the ability to "scale up."

Earlier this year Wool Source made a breakthrough in the particle size it was working with for businesses wanting a naturally based particle that could carry pigment and dyes.

When wool is de-constructed it retains it properties such as high absorption, making it a good base for carrying colour.

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