Lanaco founder and chief executive Nick Davenport, of Auckland, said New Zealand company Lanaco had signed a deal to supply its air filters made from New Zealand wool to Swedish air purifier manufacturer Blueair.
Blueair products were sold in more than 60 countries and was a Unilever brand.
"Unilever is the first company of many we have lined up and our mission is to convert that into sales as quickly as possible for the New Zealand farming industry ... It is going to have a significant impact for the wool industry because of the volumes we can move."
The global filter market was valued at more than $13 billion, he said.
"We are focussing on sectors that will have the greatest value and impact on our supply chain."
The partnership with Blueair was a significant step in the commercialisation of Lanaco’s Ecostatic wool filters and a boost for the air purifier market, which had previously relied on synthetic air filters, Mr Davenport said.
The international market wanted woollen filters because they are natural, sustainable and more environmentally friendly than plastic alternatives.
"Using our filters reduces energy, which reduces carbon."
Blueair's dedication to innovation, sustainability and quality resonated with the core values of Lanaco, Mr Davenport said.
"Our company has developed wool-based filter media because wool provides both the basis for true performance and the best sustainability credentials."
Lanaco’s filter technology was supported by the Ovis Global Astino sheep breeding programme.
The programme breed sheep to grow mid-micron wool which would provide superior filtration performance, he said.
Some of the wool was harvested from farms in the South, he said.
The initiative presented a long-term growth opportunity for the farming sector, with thousands of tonnes of New Zealand wool potentially benefiting from this scientifically sophisticated application of wool as a novel biomaterial, he said.
Blueair chief executive Andy Lu said the partnership to produce the industry's first woollen, biodegradable filter was a milestone for Blueair and "a transformative moment for the entire air purification industry”.
