News

Three-day Wool Connect conference planned for September

Sheep Central, July 28, 2021

WOOL growers across the world will again be connected with supply chain stakeholders in the second annual Wool Connect virtual conference in September this year.

The Schneider Group’s Wool Connect grower event from 7-9 September 2021 will focus on a separate section of the industry over its three days.

The event is a strategic pillar of the Schneider Group’s Sustainability Strategy TOGETHER 2030 through which the host aims to contribute to a better dialogue and consensus building along the wool supply chain.

Schneider director Elena Schneider

Schneider Group director Elena Schneider said as wool processors the organisation sits in the middle of the wool value chain.

“Through our buying offices around the world and through our Integrity Scheme Authentico we have a direct connection with wool growers and brokers.

“At the same time, we listen and discuss daily the needs, concerns and goals of our spinning, weaving and retail customers,” she said.

“As a company, we decided to start sharing and communicating the insights we hear from both ends of the supply chain.

“We believe that everyone in the wool pipeline can create more value for themselves, if we only can get closer together for better understanding, creating opportunities and moments of needed change,” Ms Schneider said.

“With Wool Connect we aim to facilitate this process.”

The first day of the conference will focus on the international context for the wool industry. Participants will hear from brands and retailers as well as non-government organisations and policy influencers about the future market demand and trends relevant for wool. Speakers will include Textile Exchange CEO La Rhea Pepper and Australian Wool Innovation’s fibre advocacy and eco credentials program manager Angus Ireland. Textile Exchange is the owner and operator of the leading wool integrity scheme Responsible Wool Standard.

Textile Exchange CEO La Rhea Pepper.

On the second day, the focus will be on animal welfare, during which speakers will outline the progress made on issues tackled through better communications along the supply chain, the Schneider Group said. Speakers will include Südwolle Group representatives Davide Marcante and Mattia Pianca, Germán García Ibañez from Inditex, Rebecca Picallo Gil from Four Paws and AWI’s Bridget Peachey, who will outline the Wool 2030 Strategy.

The last day of Wool Connect will discuss new income streams and challenges, including regenerative practices, carbon accounting, biodiversity and how wool growers can generate additional income streams in these areas. Speakers will include Mick Taylor from Landcare Australia, Stephen Wiedemann from Integrity Ag & Environment and Monica Ebert from BKB South Africa.

Participants to the event can join all three days live via Zoom. However, all recordings will also be made available within the Wool Connect community for everyone who purchased a ticket. Registration is already available via this link. Ticket prices are set at US50. Authentico Growers receive a 50 percent discount, and just need to contact the organisers by email at [email protected] to receive a discount code. Buy tickets at: https://woolconnect.gschneider.com/register/wool-connect-2021/

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your comment will not appear until it has been moderated.
Contributions that contravene our Comments Policy will not be published.

Comments

  1. Peter Small, July 29, 2021

    This is the sort of event AWI or an educational institution such as RIST should be initiating. Australia, asleep at the wheel yet again.
    And we wonder why Australia no longer runs the agenda. Well done Schneider. This is the sort of thing AWI should have been doing years ago, but with its head in sand the world just passes us by.

Get Sheep Central's news headlines emailed to you -
FREE!