NATIVARegen™: The next step in our Merino wool journey

The problem

Wool is a renewable, durable and breathable fabric—and as such is a highly consumed material. But wool can have a negative impact on the environment. As sheep digest their food, methane gasses build up inside their intestines and are then released into the atmosphere. Overgrazing can also lead to land degradation including soil erosion and desertification, causing harm to ecosystems and reducing biodiversity.

Plus, a lack of sustainable sourcing standards means it is possible for sheep to experience poor welfare conditions.

The solution

In 2022 we partnered with NATIVA™, the first to guarantee certification of the entire wool production process. NATIVA™ allows us to source the finest Merino wool from certified farms that are committed to respecting animal welfare. A year on, we’re incredibly excited to share the next step in our partnership — NATIVARegen™.

NATIVARegen™ works from the ground up, bettering soil quality through a triple impact system that protects lands, safeguards animals and supports farmers by improving their livelihoods. 

The animals

Throughout the NATIVARegen™ journey, sheep are raised ethically in harmony with nature — they graze on native plants and have space to roam. Each farmer has a management plan that assesses feeding, breeding, behavior and health to ensure animal welfare standards are met.  This includes stress free shearing and the prohibition of mulesing. 

Our farms around the world

Cerro Bombero is a family-owned NATIVARegen™ accredited farm based in Uruguay. Located 130km from the city of Paysandú, where Juan and his family live, 6000 Merino sheep are ethically raised in open fields. The farm’s regenerative practices are measured through biogenic carbon and water footprint testing, meaning we’re able to monitor the positive impact of our partnership at a field level.

The journey

CONVENTIONAL MERINO NATIVA™ MERINO NATIVARegen™ MERINO
Conventional Merino wool production raises environmental concerns due to resource-intensive farming practices and ethical issues related to animal welfare NATIVA™ Merino comes from NATIVA™ certified farms that are committed to respecting animal welfare, the environment they inhabit and the people working alongside the sheep. From breeding to finished garment, the supply chain is transparent Building on the principles of NATIVA™ Merino, NATIVARegen™ Merino aims to improve the quality of the soil by ensuring nutrients are kept within the soil matter. NATIVARegen™ also works to capture CO2 emissions caused by sheep grazing
PANGAIA does not purchase. PANGAIA purchases NATIVA™ Merino. PANGAIA invests in NATIVARegen™ at a field level to fund the embedding of regenerative practises.
CONVENTIONAL MERINO Conventional Merino wool production raises environmental concerns due to resource-intensive farming practices and ethical issues related to animal welfare PANGAIA does not purchase.
NATIVA™ MERINO NATIVA™ Merino comes from NATIVA™ certified farms that are committed to respecting animal welfare, the environment they inhabit and the people working alongside the sheep. From breeding to finished garment, the supply chain is transparent PANGAIA purchases NATIVA™ Merino.
NATIVARegen™ MERINO Building on the principles of NATIVA™ Merino, NATIVARegen™ Merino aims to improve the quality of the soil by ensuring nutrients are kept within the soil matter. NATIVARegen™ also works to capture CO2 emissions caused by sheep grazing PANGAIA invests in NATIVARegen™ at a field level to fund the embedding of regenerative practises.