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Description
Portugal and Norway have long traditions for sheep husbandry and wool. Currently, almost all wool is utilized in Norway, while in Portugal, like the rest of Europe, most of the coarse or colored wool is considered waste. The project “hiWOOL” wants to use portuguese woolen heritage to increase demand for wool from local sheep breeds, exchange knowledge and promote sustainable wool production. The wool processing industry demands white wool with homogeneous properties of fiber diameter and crimp, with no vegetable matter. Thus, large amounts of wool that do not comply with these standards are
Summary of the results
The bilateral project between Portugal and Norway aimed to promote a regenerative and circular approach to wool use, contributing to climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and ecosystem balance. Fieldwork campaigns in key regions—Selbu (Norway), Mira de Aire and Covilhã (Portugal)—included technical visits, meetings with industry CEOs, and good practice research, aligned with the Waste Hierarchy and the urgency of better wool utilization in Europe.
International workshops gathered participants from Portugal, Norway, Italy, and Estonia to exchange knowledge on the wool cycle, classification systems, and the properties of native wool fibers. These discussions led to the development of an innovative pilot yarn combining Portuguese and Norwegian wool, opening pathways for future collaborative production. Prototypes—including a Norwegian mitten and handspun Portuguese yarns—were created to test material qualities.
Museum and archive visits revealed contrasts in textile heritage preservation: Norway has well-organized archival collections, while Portugal''s strengths lie in regional museum preservation.