A roadmap to promote French wool as insulation in buildings

While the French sheep herd is estimated at 5,4 million animals, producing some 10.100 tonnes of fleeces each year, according to the Tricolor report, only 4% of this production is valued, according to the profession.

By 2030, the stated objective is to succeed in recovering 50% of the fleeces, or 5.000 tonnes, and to aim for a potential income of 2,9 million euros for breeders. Extended to 2040, the objective is to achieve fully valorized production, for an income for breeders estimated at 8,3 million euros.

The “valorization of French wool” is an issue “of fairer remuneration for sheep breeders”, declared Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture, in a video broadcast ahead of the presentation of the roadmap.

“This will contribute to a revival of French sovereignty in many sectors: textile industry, insulation, fertilizers,” said the minister.

Among the seven main proposals in the roadmap, the Tricolor association suggests ensuring better knowledge of the French herd by strengthening data collection, developing and promoting good breeding practices, or even "raising awareness among sheep breeders in the interest of producing quality wool and skins, from their initial training".

Tricolor also asks the environment and energy management agency (ADEME) and the scientific and technical building center (CSTB) to “coordinate research work to qualify French sheep wool as insulation and develop manufacturing processes.

Finally, the association intends to "contact the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) to request an identification and assessment of the health and environmental risks" of the use as fertilizing raw sheep wool.

In a press release published in reaction to the presentation of Tricolor's roadmap, the Confédération Paysanne, the third agricultural union in France, said it regrets "the absence of essential players (traders, artisanal structures, small industries already active. ..) and the over-representation of start-ups and the fashion industry" in the work presented.