Wool Source
Wool Source is a New Zealand biotechnology company that converts strong wool into patent-protected biobased pigments, particles, and powders for manufacturers and brands in screen printing, 3D printing, bioplastics, and personal care.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersChristchurch, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wool Source does
Wool Source is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based biotechnology company that has developed a patent-protected process to deconstruct New Zealand strong wool into fine particles, powders and pigments while retaining the fibre's inherent performance characteristics. The company was established to commercialise the 'New Uses for Strong Wool' research programme led by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ) with co-funding from the New Zealand government and scientific support from Lincoln Agritech, and currently operates a pilot plant at Lincoln University. Wool Source sells a portfolio of biobased colourants (Yellow 605, Red 604, Blue 702, Black 609) certified at 92-98% biobased carbon content under ASTM D6866, alongside Particles and Powders product families, with Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certification achieved for the latter two.
The company's commercial offering targets manufacturers and brands in four primary verticals: screen printing (textiles and packaging), 3D printing filament, bioplastics (PLA, PHA, Bio-PE, PBS) and broader print applications. Wool Source Pigments and particles are sold as bulk ingredients on a direct B2B basis with sample ordering via the company website, supplemented by channel partnerships that deliver finished goods to end users — most notably KiwiFil (WoolyFil 3D printing filament sold globally) and Kathmandu (screen-printed merino t-shirts in New Zealand retail and online in NZ/Australia). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and commercial contracts are negotiated on inquiry.
Wool Source monetises through ingredient sales and has identified future technology licensing as an additional revenue stream. The company is privately held and is in a pre-commercial scaling phase, having received NZD $20.16 million in June 2026 from the New Zealand Government's Primary Sector Growth Fund to construct a commercial-scale Christchurch facility capable of processing one million kilograms of wool annually. The company's competitive position rests on proprietary deconstruction IP, third-party verified sustainability certifications (Cradle to Cradle, ASTM D6866, NZFAP), and a horizontal go-to-market strategy that diversifies exposure across multiple biobased end markets.
Wool Source firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wool Source
- Legal name
- Wool Source
- Website
- https://woolsource.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wool Source is a New Zealand biotechnology company that converts strong wool into patent-protected biobased pigments, particles, and powders for manufacturers and brands in screen printing, 3D printing, bioplastics, and personal care.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wool Source industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biobased Pigments and Specialty Ingredients
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)
- SIC
- Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pigments & Dyes (IMAEAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Wool Source is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Christchurch
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wool Source business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pigment Ingredient Sales: Sale of biobased pigments (Wool Source Yellow 605, Red 604, Blue 702, Black 609) as ingredients to manufacturers in screen printing, 3D printing, and bioplastics industries
- Particles and Powders Sales: Sale of wool-derived particles and powders for applications in inks, 3D printing, personal care, bioplastics and textiles
- Technology Licensing: Potential technology licensing for manufacturers to produce wool-derived materials
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sample ordering available |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Wool Source product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wool Source manufactures and sells wool-derived pigments, particles, and powders using patent-protected technology that transforms New Zealand strong wool into biobased ingredients. The flagship Wool Source Pigments line (Yellow 605, Red 604, Blue 702, Black 609) is sold as colourants for screen printing inks, 3D printing filaments, and bioplastics, while Particles and Powders serve personal care, industrial, and bioplastic applications.
Product overview
Wool Source is a New Zealand-based ingredient manufacturer offering three core product families — Wool Source Pigments, Wool Source Particles, and Wool Source Powders — all derived from pure New Zealand strong wool using a patent-protected technology. Wool Source Pigments is the flagship product line, comprising four colour variants (Yellow 605, Black 609, Blue 702, and Red 604) that serve as biobased colourants (92–98% biobased carbon content per ASTM D6866) for screen printing inks, 3D printing filaments, and bioplastics. Wool Source Particles and Powders are additional wool-derived material forms targeting personal care, industrial, and bioplastics applications. The products are sold as bulk ingredients to manufacturers and brands, with co-branded finished goods (e.g., WoolyFil 3D printing filament with KiwiFil) used to demonstrate end-market applications. A new production facility backed by NZ$20.16 million in government funding is under development to enable commercial-scale manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wool Source Yellow 605
Quantifiable outcome
- 92-98% biobased carbon content (ASTM D6866)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wool Source
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Wool Source technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wool Source partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KathmanducoreFirst major screen-printing collaboration for Wool Source Pigments. Kathmandu launched graphic t-shirts made of 100% merino printed with Wool Source Pigments, inspired by Canterbury's braided river systems. T-shirts available online in New Zealand and Australia.
- KiwiFilcoreCollaboration to create 'WoolyFil' - world's first commercial 3D printing filament to use wool-based colourant. Available in Green Marble and Riverstone colours in 250g and 1kg spools via KiwiFil's website.
- Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ)corePatent entity and R&D partner leading the 'New Uses for Strong Wool' programme. Co-funded by New Zealand government and supported by wool growers and scientists at Lincoln Agritech.
- Lincoln AgritechcoreDevelopment of research and support of existing pilot plant as instrumental in helping the technology reach commercial stage.
- Lincoln UniversitycoreLocation of existing pilot plant near Christchurch that helped prove the concept.
- Wools of New ZealandcoreSourcing partner for wool from growers certified under New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP).
- Wool ImpactminorPartner organisation working to foster greater collaboration and promotion of wool across the sector.
- Go!PHAminorInternational non-profit initiative championing renewable, compostable, and biodegradable materials. Wool Source is a member.
- Cradle to Cradle Certified Products ProgramminorGlobal standard for safe, circular, and responsibly made products. Wool Source participates in certification programme; achieved Material Health Certification for Powders and Particles.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Wool Source competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Lenzing AG: Lenzing is an Austrian manufacturer of sustainable cellulose (wood-based) fibres such as TENCEL and LENZING ECOVERO, used in apparel, hygiene, and industrial applications. Comparable to Wool Source as a specialty ingredient manufacturer that transforms a natural raw material via proprietary process technology into higher-value industrial inputs with strong sustainability credentials, though Lenzing serves textile fibre markets rather than colourants.
Broad incumbents
- Clariant: Clariant is a Swiss specialty chemicals company with a significant pigments and colorants business serving industrial, plastics, and printing customers. Comparable to Wool Source in targeting high-value specialty colorant applications including bioplastics and personal care, though Clariant's portfolio is much broader and predominantly synthetic.
- GNT Group: GNT Group is an established supplier of plant-based natural colourants (the EXBERRY range) used in food, beverages, cosmetics, and some industrial applications. Comparable to Wool Source as a biobased colourant manufacturer using natural feedstocks, though GNT focuses primarily on food and beverage applications while Wool Source targets industrial inks, 3D printing, and bioplastics.
- DIC Corporation: DIC is a Japanese-headquartered global manufacturer of pigments, inks, and specialty chemicals with deep presence in printing, plastics, and coatings. Comparable to Wool Source as a pigment supplier serving the same end-use segments (screen printing inks, plastic coloration), but DIC's portfolio is dominated by synthetic pigments and operates at substantially greater scale.
- Sun Chemical: Sun Chemical is the world's largest producer of printing inks and pigments, with a comprehensive portfolio that includes the very screen-printing ink category Wool Source Pigments is targeting. Comparable because both sell colourants to industrial printing customers at scale, though Sun Chemical operates globally on synthetic chemistry while Wool Source is positioning a renewable alternative.
- Sensient Technologies: Sensient Technologies is a global manufacturer of colours, flavours, and fragrances, with a colours segment supplying food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications including inks and plastics. Comparable to Wool Source in supplying natural and synthetic colourants to multiple industrial and consumer end markets.
- Cathay Industries: Cathay Industries is one of the world's largest manufacturers of iron oxide and specialty inorganic pigments, serving coatings, plastics, construction, and industrial applications. Comparable to Wool Source as a pigment supplier for industrial applications, though Cathay focuses on inorganic pigment chemistries rather than biobased colourants.
- Heubach: Heubach is a global pigment manufacturer with a portfolio spanning inorganic, organic, and specialty pigments, including anticorrosion and complex inorganic colour pigments. Comparable to Wool Source as a pigment supplier to industrial customers in coatings, plastics, and printing, with overlapping end-use segments.
Emerging players
- BioPowder: BioPowder is a small company producing biobased functional powders (such as olive-stone powder) for industrial applications including composites, coatings, cosmetics, and personal care. Comparable to Wool Source in business model: taking a natural agricultural feedstock, processing it into fine functional powders, and selling to industrial buyers seeking renewable alternatives to synthetic mineral or fossil-derived materials.
- Earth Pigments Company: Earth Pigments Company is a smaller North American supplier of natural earth, mineral, and oxide pigments for artists, plasterers, and small-scale industrial users. Comparable to Wool Source in selling natural-origin pigments to customers seeking non-synthetic colourants, though at a much smaller scale and focused on craft and architectural uses rather than industrial inks or bioplastics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wool Source social profiles
Digital presenceWool Source compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Wool Source financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wool Source leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Wool Source funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wool Source M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wool Source
What does Wool Source do?
Wool Source manufactures and sells wool-derived pigments, particles, and powders using patent-protected technology that transforms New Zealand strong wool into biobased ingredients. The flagship Wool Source Pigments line (Yellow 605, Red 604, Blue 702, Black 609) is sold as colourants for screen printing inks, 3D printing filaments, and bioplastics, while Particles and Powders serve personal care, industrial, and bioplastic applications.
Is Wool Source a public or private company?
Wool Source is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Wool Source founded?
Wool Source was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wool Source based?
Wool Source is headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Wool Source make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pigment Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are particles and Powders Sales and technology Licensing.
Who are Wool Source's main competitors?
Lenzing AG is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Clariant, GNT Group, DIC Corporation, Sun Chemical, Sensient Technologies, Cathay Industries and Heubach. Emerging players are BioPowder and Earth Pigments Company.
Does Wool Source have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wool Source.
What industry is Wool Source in?
Wool Source's product category is Biobased Pigments and Specialty Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAJ, Pigments & Dyes. Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 2851.