On 22–25 October 2026, Arm.wool participated in the Green Zone of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Yerevan, bringing Armenia’s wool heritage and its untapped potential into the global conversation on biodiversity, circular economy, and sustainable development.

A highlight of the participation was the panel discussion “From Forgotten Fibre to a Functioning Value Chain”, held on 22 October. The discussion explored how Armenia can transform underused sheep wool into a valuable resource through collaboration, innovation, and stronger connections across the wool sector.

The participation of Johan Sidenmark from Sweden’s Axfoundation brought valuable international experience to the discussion, particularly in circular economy and the sustainable use of natural materials. Sharing insights from Axfoundation’s work offered Arm.wool an important opportunity to learn from established approaches, explore potential areas for cooperation, and identify new pathways for developing Armenia’s wool value chain.

For Arm.wool, this vision translates into several key priorities: reconnecting the wool value chain from sheep farmers to markets, improving wool collection and quality assessment, strengthening local processing capacities, transferring traditional skills to new generations, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.

By bringing together producers, processors, artisans, businesses, and development partners, Arm.wool aims to demonstrate that wool is more than a traditional material. It is a resource with the potential to support biodiversity, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen local economies.

Our participation at COP17 reaffirmed our commitment to building a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable future for Armenian wool.

Armenian wool. Local value. A more sustainable future.