If you’ve been looking into wool bedding, you’ve probably come across the terms like “EcoWool” and “organic wool.”
At Shepherd’s Dream we offer both EcoWool and GOTS-certified organic wool in select pillows, toppers, and comforters. Both Ecowool and GOTS-certified organic wool are natural, high quality options with all of the same benefits that make wool such a great, versatile bedding material.
What’s the Difference Between EcoWool and Organic Wool?
The biggest difference between EcoWool and organic wool comes down to certification, sourcing, and production.
EcoWool is a domestic wool product sourced from regional ranchers and processed in California.
Our GOTS-certified organic wool comes from New Zealand and meets the strict requirements of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
So which is better? Well, that all depends on your personal preference and what matters the most to you!
What is EcoWool?
EcoWool is a trademarked wool product that comes to us exclusively from The Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California. We’ve worked with the Woolgatherer for almost as long as we’ve been in business! We appreciate their approach to processing wool and their commitment to producing exceptional wool batting.
How is EcoWool Made?
EcoWool begins with wool from regional ranchers who raise sheep on open pastures. They care for the land and animals in a sustainable manner that we highly value. Rather than relying on intensive processing to create a uniform looking fiber, EcoWool is produced with an emphasis on preserving the natural qualities of the wool.
Our EcoWool comes from a blend of several sheep breeds including:
- Corriedale
- Suffolk
- Dorset
- Cheviot
- Romney
- Morrit
- Coopworth
- Columbia
This variety helps create a wool batting with the ideal combination of fiber length, loft, resilience, and performance.
The wool is processed at the Woolgatherer Carding Mill using antique carding machinery originally fabricated in 1917. The carding process prepares and cleans the wool while helping preserve its natural texture and loft. The result is a soft, lofty wool batting that works beautifully in natural mattresses, wool pillows, comforters, and mattress toppers.
Is EcoWool Organic?
No, EcoWool is not certified organic.
This is an important distinction. Organic certification is a formal certification process with specific requirements for farming, processing, manufacturing, and, depending on the certification and product, other components of the finished textile. EcoWool does not carry an organic certification. Instead, its appeal comes from its domestic sourcing, natural processing, regional production, and focus on preserving the qualities of the wool fiber.
For customers who prioritize supporting domestic agriculture and locally sourced materials.
Where Does EcoWool Come From?
One of the things we pride ourselves on most about EcoWool is that it is 100% domestic.
Our EcoWool is sourced and processed in the United States, including wool from ranchers in Northern California and Southern Oregon where we are based out of. This means that choosing EcoWool helps support the regional sheep and wool industry while reducing the transportation distance associated with imported wool. Supporting domestic wool production is important to us because the American wool industry has faced significant challenges as cheap synthetic fibers become more prevalent.
Today, we’re excited to see renewed interest in wool because of its natural qualities, durability, versatility, and ability to be used as a renewable fiber. For us, choosing domestic wool is about more than the finished product. It’s about supporting the ranchers, mills, craftspeople, and communities that help keep the wool industry alive.
What is Organic Wool?
Our GOTS-certified organic wool offers another way to choose natural wool bedding. The wool used in our certified organic products comes from New Zealand, where sheep farming has a long history and wool is an important agricultural product. But what makes organic wool different isn’t only where the sheep are raised.
What Does GOTS-certified mean?
GOTS stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard. GOTS certification sets requirements for organic fibers as well as environmental and social criteria throughout the textile processing and manufacturing. For a finished textile product to carry GOTS certification, the applicable materials and manufacturing processes must meet the standard requirements. This provides customers with a third party certification they can look for when shopping for organic textiles.
Certification also helps provide greater transparency in an industry where terms such as “natural,” “eco friendly,” and “green” can make it hard to evaluate which product is actually organic.
Is Organic Wool Better Than EcoWool?
Not necessarily. Organic wool and EcoWool are both excellent choices, but they offer different benefits. The primary distinction is certification.
If having a recognized organic certification is important to you, our GOTS-certified organic wool may be the better choice.
If you’re more interested in domestic wool, regional agriculture, and supporting U.S. ranchers and wool processors, EcoWool may be the better fit.
It’s worth noting that the absence of an organic certification doesn’t automatically mean the product is unsafe, heavily processed, or inferior. Certification and product quality are related, but they aren’t the same thing.
EcoWool is produced with a focus on maintaining the natural qualities of the wool while avoiding some of the intensive processing methods commonly used to create an unnatural uniform wool fibers.
EcoWool Vs. Organic Wool
Which Wool Should You Choose?
Ultimately, there isn’t one right answer for everyone. The best choice depends on what you value most in your bedding.
EcoWool may be the right choice if you:
- Want domestically sourced wool bedding
- Prefer to support American sheep ranchers and wool processors
- Value regional and local agriculture
- Want natural wool without requiring organic certification
- Appreciate wool that retains its natural loft and characteristics
- Are looking for a more accessible price point
Why Choose Organic Wool?
GOTS-certified organic wool may be the right choice if you:
- Specifically want certified organic wool bedding
- Prefer third-party certification when shopping for textiles
- Want the additional assurance provided by an established organic textile standard
- Are looking for organic materials throughout your certified bedding product
If you’re still undecided, that’s ok! Both are beautiful, natural wool options that provide the warmth, breathability, resilience, and comfort that makes wool such an amazingly wonderful material for bedding. At Shepherd’s Dream we’re very proud to offer both options because we believe that choosing natural bedding doesn’t have to be about finding the single “perfect” material. It’s about understanding where your bedding comes from, how it’s made, and deciding which qualities matter most to you!
Frequently Asked Questions About EcoWool and Organic Wool
Is EcoWool organic?
No, EcoWool is not certified organic. It is a natural wool product sourced domestically and processed in Northern California.
What’s the difference between EcoWool and organic wool?
The primary difference is certification and sourcing. EcoWool is a domestically sourced, non certified wool product. While our organic wool products use GOTS-certified organic wool from New Zealand.
Is GOTS-certified wool better than EcoWool?
Not necessarily. GOTS certification provides specific standards and third party oversicht, which can be especially important to customers seeking certified organic textiles EcoWool offers different advantages, including domestic sourcing and support for regional wool production.
Where does Shepherd’s Dream organic wool come from?
Our GOTS-certified organic wool comes from New Zealand.
Where does Shepherd’s Dream EcoWool come from?
Our EcoWool is sourced domestically and processed at the Woolgatherer Carding Mill in Montague, California.
Which is more sustainable: EcoWool or organic wool?
Both have sustainability advantages. EcoWool is domestically sourced which means a shorter transportation distance for our products and supports the U.S. wool industry. Our GOTS-certified organic wool provides certified organic fiber and processing standards. The better choice depends on which aspects of sustainability are most important to you.
