Frequently asked questions

+ What makes Woola packaging better than a standard bubble mailer?

Woola protective packaging is made of leftover wool, bio-based binder and, in the case of the Wool Envelope, recycled paper — which are all biodegradable materials. Even if they end up in nature or in landfill, they’ll eventually❊** break down into biomass, CO2 and water, without leaving any microplastics behind** (unlike the classic bubble wrap/mailer made from polyethylene (PE), the main source of microplastics globally).

The two layers of a Woola envelope are easily separable so both materials, wool and paper, can easily be reused or recycled. The main challenge of plastic bubble wrap envelopes is that the different materials are difficult to separate, which makes it nearly impossible to recycle in most countries. The only option for them is landfill, or to be burnt to create energy.

❊ The timeframe depends a lot on the conditions of the environment (temperature, moisture and oxygen levels, microbes) so it can be from some months to some years, but compared to plastic packaging that can take up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills, it’s so much lighter on the planet.**

+ What should be done with the packaging after use?

You can reuse the packages if they still look good, or get creative and repurpose the wool for a DIY project. You can also recycle the packaging. Read more in our disposal guide .

+ What happens if the packaging ends up in a landfill?

Even if Woola packaging ends up in a landfill (via the general waste stream), it will eventually break down into biomass, CO2 and water, without creating any microplastics. Each landfill is different meaning it is impossible to name a specific timeframe. It depends a lot on the conditions (temperature, moisture and oxygen levels, microbes) so it can be from some months to some years, but compared to plastic packaging that can take up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills, it’s so much lighter on the planet.

+ What are the packages made from, besides wool?

We use a bio-based biodegradable binder to turn raw wool into Woola packaging. To make the Wool Envelopes we also use envelopes made of recycled paper.

+ Where are Woola products made?

All Woola products are made in Estonia. Our factory is located in the small town of Paldiski. Besides being easily accessible by train from the capital Tallinn, the location is great as it allows us to tap into the area’s autonomous renewable energy grid operated by the PAKRI Science and Industrial Park.

+ Where does the wool come from?

We sourced the first batches of leftover wool from our partners in the United Kingdom, a country with long-standing sheep farming traditions and the most sheep in Europe. It came washed, processed and ready to be turned into products.

Simple and straightforward... but not transparent enough. So we started to set up a local wool supply in March 2021.

Today, we only use wool sourced locally from Estonian farmers. We cherish our good working relationships with the farmers and keep building these as long-term partnerships.

As such, we have agreed with the farmers on a fair price for their wool, and take care of collecting the wool after it has been sheared, as well as setting up the extra steps needed for production.

+ Are the products sheep-friendly?

We only use leftover wool in our production to eliminate any direct impact on sheep. The type of wool we use is mostly considered a worthless by-product as its quality is not high enough for the textile industry. We’ve set high standards when choosing our suppliers to make sure the sheep are treated well throughout our supply chain.

There are a lot of grey areas when it comes to the wool industry and that’s why we’re working especially hard on making our supply chain fully transparent to everyone interested.

+ Do the products have any smell?

The wool we use to make our products is washed in the process, making it clean and hygienic, but we don’t use any chemicals to remove the natural scent fully. We’d compare the minimal smell with the smell of a wool sweater.

+ Does the packaging cause allergic reactions?

People have different skin sensitivity and for some, woollen apparel is simply too scratchy to wear, causing irritation. However, wool itself is a hypoallergenic material. People who experience reactions to wool mostly react to lanolin, a substance found in wool, or dyes/preservatives added to the wool.

We use washed wool in the production, from which lanolin has been released, and we don’t add any chemicals that can trigger an allergic reaction. As such, we're yet to hear of anyone having an allergic reaction to Woola's products.

+ What is Woola packaging suitable for?

Use Woola to pack items that need extra protection during shipping. Simply put, you can use Woola to pack anything you might otherwise pack in plastic bubble wrap or in a bubble mailer.

+ Where can I buy the packages?

Get in touch with one of our sales managers to get a quote or make an order.

+ Do you offer customised packages?

Yes, we do! Custom designs are available for orders of 5000 or more Wool Envelopes. You can add your own text, logo or any other brand element on the paper layer of the Wool Envelope. Get in touch with one of our sales managers to make an order or receive a quote. You can also read more about how we approach the topic of customising sustainable packaging on our blog.