Beyond its traditional use in the textile industry, sheep wool has physicochemical properties that make it an efficient thermal insulator, with applications in sustainable architecture.
Based on this premise, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) developed a technology to take advantage of thick wools that were historically burned or buried by producers.
An abundant and underutilized resource
In the country, many sheep breeds do not produce fine wool like merino, destined for export. This coarse carded wool, with no demand in the textile market, was considered a worthless residue.
INTA’s work allowed to revalue this byproduct and generate productive opportunities in different regions.
“We developed a protocol to transform what the producers already had in their hands,” explained Lucas Zanovello, an industrial designer and researcher at the IPAF Patagonia of INTA to rionegro.com.
From waste to insulator: the technical process
The process begins with manual or semi-industrial washing, followed by treatment with boron salts that:
– Protect against insects, such as wool moths
– Act as a flame retardant, suitable for construction
Then, a mechanical opening is carried out to homogenize the material and reduce its density. The result is a bulk insulator, applicable in floors, walls, and ceilings, especially in drywall construction. Additionally, its acoustic capacity has been proven, making it an effective sound barrier.
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Territorial impact and productive networks
Since its implementation in 2017, the project has been replicated in areas where sheep production is oriented towards meat, such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, and San Luis.
INTA provides theoretical-practical training, advises on the design of productive units, and adapts the available equipment.
“We support nodes in different parts of the country where the need arose,” Zanovello pointed out.
Emblematic cases of decentralized production
Among the outstanding experiences:
– Aislana, a family business in San Luis, emerged from a sheep producer who first insulated his home and then set up a production unit that now sells insulators throughout the country.
– In Dina Huapi, the Mercado de la Estepa produces insulators according to the families’ demand.
– In El Bolsón, a cooperative of women bio-builders manufactures one-kilo insulator bags for roofs.
There are also initiatives in San Martín de los Andes, Trevelin, Esquel, Comodoro Rivadavia, and Córdoba, consolidating a sustainable production network with social and environmental impact.
Sustainability, inclusion, and circular economy
The reuse of sheep wool as a thermal insulator represents an innovative solution that:
– Reduces the disposal of agricultural materials
– Substitutes inputs of fossil or mineral origin
– Generates local employment and strengthens regional economies
– Promotes sustainable construction and bioclimatic design
This INTA development shows how technology applied to the territory can solve concrete problems, generate added value, and build inclusive productive networks.
