When spinners make yarns, they always get some leftovers. Most of them are short fibers that can't be spun into new yarns and they send them to the customer.

For many years, we have been storing these leftovers, and we tried to make something useful with them.

We experimented with spinning them into other yarns, but the result was never as good as we expected. Using them for stuffing also seemed like a good option, but we don't sell stuffed products, so we kept storing them, while the pile was growing and growing.

Last month, an Oil Spill caused an Environmental Emergency in Peru, and we wanted to help in any way we could.

Someone from our Perú team got in contact with the ONG AMAAC Perú and we donated about 1000 kg of yarn leftovers.

We had the chance to talk with Lino Merino, who kindly answered some questions for us

1. How did AMAAC start?

AMAAC is an organization that started as a shared project to come up with solutions for communities that are vulnerable and affected due to extreme poverty or because they live in dangerous zones. All these communities collaborate and are involved in improving the area in a sustainable way.

2. Did you begin to investigate how to remove petroleum of the sea because of the volcanic eruption back in January [in Tonga]? Or was that something you were investigating already?

The studies began when we participated in activities with Repsol, we investigated and researched their plan of intervention and found other ways to clean beaches such as hair, wool, bird feathers.

3. How did you conclude that merino wool was going to help in absorbing petroleum?

There was a lot of petroleum in the sea to clean it solely with wool. It was a very good strategy to contain the oil preventing it from returning to the sea. The strategy was to put these "absorbent chains" made of wool pompoms on the shore and then we pick all the petroleum with specific machines.

4. How much time does it take for the yarn to absorb the oil?

Each absorbent chain lasted one day. We used a new one every day.

5. How much does it absorb?

It's not much, just a 10% but it really helps contain the oil. Once the wool has contact with petroleum it is thrown in the trash but to a separate hazardous waste area.

Thank you!

AMAAC Perú is an ONG, and they volunteered to help clean the beaches.

Instagram: @amaacperu

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