The petition urges the European Commission to ensure fair treatment of natural fibres – including wool – in upcoming textile sustainability policies.
AWI Chief Executive John Roberts says it is important for Australian woolgrowers to continue to be heard.
"Thanks in part to the ongoing strong voice from Australian woolgrowers, the proposed environmental labelling on apparel products for sale in the EU that threatened to disadvantage Australian wool has been deferred for now. However, it remains vital to maintain the pressure on EU policymakers, so they recognise the environmental benefits of natural fibres and fulfil their promise to put fast fashion out of fashion."
"Addressing the biases and limitations in the EU’s sustainability rules is essential to ensure a fair and accurate assessment of wool's sustainability credentials. It is especially important for the Australian wool industry because the EU currently consumes about a quarter of all Australian wool."
"Furthermore, due to the EU being a driving force in environmental policy, other markets across the world could potentially follow its lead and adopt similar initiatives to the EU in their own jurisdictions."
The new petition has been launched by Make the Label Count (MTLC), an international coalition of organisations representing a wide range of natural fibre producers, manufacturers, brands, standards organisations and environmental groups.