Weaving Bioregional Material Networks – Circular Valorisation of Alpine Sheep Wool for a Regenerative Economy
Assigned Session: FS 3.175: Adding value to wool, from globalization to the circular economy: which opportunities for mountain regions?
Abstract ID: 3.17751 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA
Carolin Schelkle (1)
(1) Technical University of Munich / TUM School of Engineering and Design / Professorship of Architecture and Design, Arcisstraße 21, 80333 München, Deutschland
Abstract
In Europe, sheep are primarily bred for meat, dairy production, or landscape maintenance rather than fibre production, resulting in large quantities of raw wool being underutilized or discarded. Due to this, European wool often fails to meet textile industry standards, leading to significant amounts being abandoned in storage, illegally burned, or buried. This practice-based dissertation explores how bioregional production networks can transform European sheep wool into a valuable resource through localized, circular valorisation strategies. Focusing on three to four selected bioregions, the study establishes collaborative production networks among local stakeholders. A systematic analysis of each bioregion is conducted to map existing resource flows and actor constellations, identifying new opportunities for wool processing and integration into regional economies. By leveraging local resources and expertise, these networks develop context-sensitive applications for wool as a secondary product, tailored to the material properties, ecosystem dynamics, and specific needs of each bioregion. The research outcomes include prototypes of wool-based applications that demonstrate how underutilized materials can be reintegrated into regenerative production systems. These artifacts serve as tangible representations of the established production network and their role in fostering sustainable, regionally embedded material cycles. A key contribution of this dissertation is the development of a structured methodological framework for regionally embedded, sustainable wool utilization. Designed for transferability across diverse European bioregions, the framework considers the distinct ecological, economic, and social configurations of each region. When implemented in different areas, the results will vary, as each bioregion, along with its ecosystem and stakeholders, is unique. By bridging material research, local resource valorisation, and collaborative production, this study demonstrates how abandoned or undervalued materials can be reintegrated into sustainable, circular economies. It contributes to the growing discourse on regenerative economies by presenting a scalable model for wool valorisation that strengthens local networks, reduces waste, and fosters environmentally and socially responsible production practices.
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