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Croatian Entrepreneur Creates Circular Economy: Turning 1,000 Tons of Waste Wool into Fertilizer Annually
News Source: PTS News (Public Television Service)
Content Translation:
In Croatia, a local entrepreneur has successfully turned an environmental headache into "green gold." By recycling waste wool that was previously discarded in nature, she produces high-quality organic fertilizer, creating a win-win circular economy model for both the environment and local farmers.
Turning an "Ecological Disaster" into Opportunity In the mountainous regions of Croatia, the native sheep breed, known as Lička Pramenka, is widely raised. However, the wool from these sheep is too coarse and rough for use in the textile industry to make clothing. As a result, after shearing, farmers had no use for the wool.
For years, this led to a severe environmental issue. Tons of wool were dumped into pits, thrown into rivers, or scattered across the countryside. Since wool is difficult to decompose naturally, it became a significant source of pollution.
Innovation: Wool as a Super Fertilizer Dragica Jerkov, a Croatian entrepreneur, saw potential in this waste. She established a processing plant that transforms this discarded wool into organic fertilizer pellets.
Jerkov explains the benefits of this product:
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High Nutrient Content: Wool is rich in nitrogen, sulfur, and other essential nutrients for plants.
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Water Retention: The wool pellets have incredible water-absorbing capabilities. They can hold water up to several times their own weight. When mixed into the soil, they help retain moisture, significantly reducing the need for watering—a crucial feature as climate change leads to drier conditions.
A Win-Win for Shepherds and the Planet Jerkov's company collects the wool from local shepherds, paying approximately 0.15 euros (about 5 NTD) per kilogram. This transforms what was once trash into a new revenue stream for the farmers.
"We pay them for the raw material, so they no longer throw it into nature," Jerkov states.
Currently, the factory has a production capacity of 1,000 tons per year. This initiative has successfully transformed a major ecological burden into a valuable agricultural resource, establishing a sustainable circular economy model.