Lana

Wool from hazardous waste to resource

Mountain sheep wool is a resource that has lost value in Europe in recent decades. Especially in mountainous regions such as South Tyrol, where sheep farming is strongly rooted in tradition, large quantities of wool accumulate, which is a hazardous and difficult waste to dispose of and which burdens farmers' costs. The Lana project experimentally investigates the possibilities of innovative use of pre-consumer wool waste for the bio-assembly of mycelium-based composites to be applied in architecture. The material-based design research was translated into material prototypes, an experimental material-technology setup and application demonstrators. Furthermore, the feasibility of the concept was illustrated by designing a synergies framework between local suppliers, based on a safe and efficient circular use of local resources.