Driving Sustainable Innovation with New Zealand Wool

Kathmandu is proud to be working with Christchurch based Wool Source. Their world‑leading, patented technology converts strong wool into a colourant suitable for screen‑printing inks.

Kathmandu is applying this innovation in a newly released 100% merino graphic t‑shirt, inspired by Canterbury’s braided river systems. This uniquely local landscape connects the product back to its natural origins and now, the print itself does too, thanks to Wool Source Pigments.

Wool Source Pigments are a 97–98% biobased alternative to traditional synthetic pigments. That means they’re made mostly from renewable natural materials rather than petroleum‑based chemicals. When these pigments are blended into liquids to create screen‑printing inks, the high biobased content ensures almost all of the carbon in the product originates from renewable sources.

“Innovation should do more than reduce harm,” says Kathmandu Head of Product Innovation and Product Sustainability Manu Rastogi.

 “This is a real example of how innovation and sustainability can complement each other, and the industry as a whole, and now we’ve helped unlock new value for New Zealand strong wool,” he says.

Wool Source Chief Executive Tom Hooper says partnering with a New Zealand brand like Kathmandu is a significant step as they prepare to take their technology to global markets.

“It showcases that you can incorporate our pigments into traditional commercial processes at scale and deliver a high‑quality final product using more environmentally friendly materials,” Hooper says.

This development builds on years of scientific research through the New Uses for Strong Wool programme, led by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand, with support from Lincoln Agritech scientists, wool growers, the wider wool supply chain, the Ministry of Business and Innovation and Employment, and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

As a B Corp, Kathmandu is part of a global community of businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental performance.