Image: WoodAid
Whether we are indoors or outdoors, skin cuts and abrasions are inevitable no matter how careful we are. That’s when bandages come to our rescue. But have you ever thought about what happens to the conventional plastic-based bandages that you throw away after use? Well, those just end up in landfills, being part of the rest of the single-use plastic. Concerned about the environmental impact of plastic bandages, WoolAid founder Lucas Smith came up with biodegradable merino wool bandages.
He came up with the creation of sustainable bandages while he was working as a Mountaineering Guide on the South Island of New Zealand. Mostly outdoors, during camping, hiking, or mountaineering, people have to deal with small cuts and scrapes, for which they use traditional plastic bandages.
Image: WoolAid
But after being used, those bandages are thrown away carelessly on the ground and adversely impact our environment. Therefore, Smith thought of using merino wool fabric to make practical bandages that won’t harm the ecology. Merino wool’s hypoallergenic and breathable properties are great for healing. Moreover, it’s sustainable and biodegrades within 4 to 5 months.
Merino wool fabric and wound pads work like wool underlays that heal the wound while absorbing and dispersing moisture. Even the wool’s natural breathability leads to a quick healing process. Meanwhile, the material feels very soft against the skin and can adjust its temperature naturally. This makes it a practical material for elastic bandages.
WoolAid started with wool from New Zealand’s world-famous sheep. But they use wool from other countries as a supplement, if necessary. After harvesting the merino wool, it’s sent to Italy for weaning into the fabric for making bandages. Later, it goes to their medical manufacturing plant in Shanghai.
Image: WoolAid
WoolAid elastic bandages use a medical-grade adhesive for achieving a stable effect. However, the adhesives are yet not as sustainable as other components of this bandage and the company is figuring out better adhesive solutions.
Nonetheless, these merino wool bandages can break down within a few months. The company has also shared pre and post pictures of their bandages after degrading. This is likely to encourage more eco-conscious customers to buy their products. In the image, you can slightly see the broken down pink fragments after five months.
If you want to grab these sustainable merino wool bandages, you can get them from selected New Zealand retailers and the brand’s website. The company is even willing to expand its distribution. They are planning to launch their bandages in different emergency packaging for varying prices.
Via: New Atlas