NZ Merino rebrands as Zentera Wool Company
In a section of Milano Unica dedicated to fibre producers, which featured Cotton USA and Supima along with the Alliance for European Flax-Linen and Hemp, Zentera presented the new face of what was formerly known as the New Zealand Merino Company. The Zentera Wool Company owns the ZQ and ZQ+ (plus for regenerative) certifications and works with some 600 growers based in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The incorporation of farmers outside of New Zealand is what motivated the new name, as Fulvio Galimberti, ZQ brand ambassador told Sportstextiles.
ZQ certification was first introduced in 2007, followed by ZQ+ in 2020. Every grower is independently audited by a third-party and animal welfare conditions are aligned with the Five Freedoms model. The certification also delivers digital traceability.
The regenerative standard is still “a work in progress, but we have a clear idea of where we want to go,” noted Mr Galimberti. Built on the foundations of ZQ certification, the framework is formalising regenerative practices designed specifically for sheep farming. It tracks progress across 15 indicators and its claims are aligned with those of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative and Textile Exchange.
Photo courtesy of Zentera Wool Company
