In episode 16 of the dunkelgrün podcast I talked about the “standard” superwash process (the Hercosett treatment), explaining how it changes the wool fibers and why it is bad for our environment.

There are, however, alternative treatments to increase the washability of wool fibers without the use of environmentally hazardous chemicals, e.g. the “EXP process”.

Many knitters want to make conscious choices with their yarn purchases. We are putting many hours of handwork into our knitted pieces so we want to wear our finished garments happily and proudly – without feeling guilty.

That’s why I have started to create this list, with the help of the gorgeous community around my podcast. We collect sources for both non-superwash yarns or yarns that have been superwash treated with eco-friendly processes.

This is by no means an exhaustive list! If you would like to add a suggestion for a yarn source to be entered here, you can do so in this ravelry thread.

The following yarns are superwash treated using eco-friendly processes. For each yarn you find a link (to ravelry or an online shop) and a note on the certificate of the superwash process, as well as the country where this yarn is from.
GOTS = certified organic according to the Global Organic Textile Standard
bluesign = a very strict label which guarantees sustainable textile production and elimination of hazardous substances. See here.

• Schoeller Stahl Zimba Fix EXP – GOTS and bluesign – Germany / Austria
• Schoeller Stahl Zimba Top – GOTS and bluesign – Germany / Austria
• Wollspinnerei Vetsch Munja – GOTS and bluesign – Switzerland
• Austermann Merino 160 exp – GOTS and bluesign – Germany (produced by schoeller group)
• Austermann Step, Austermann Step 6 and Austermann Step Classic  – EXP treated according to information at loveknitting.com.
• Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy  – GOTS – Germany
• Rosy Green Wool Big Merino Hug – GOTS – Germany
• Tíntica yarns – “reduced superwash treatment” – Spain

• Tanis Fiber Arts PureWash DK – GOTS – Canada
• Tanis Fiber Arts PureWash Fingering – GOTS – Canada
• Tanis Fiber Arts PureWash Worsted – GOTS – Canada
• Swans Island Organic Washable DK – “eco-wash” according to yarn description – Maine, USA
• O-Wool O-Wash Fingering – GOTS – Pennsylvania, USA
• O-Wool O-Wash Sport – GOTS – Pennsylvania, USA
• O-Wool O-Wash Worsted – GOTS – Pennsylvania, USA
• O-Wool O-Wash Chunky – GOTS – Pennsylvania, USA

The following yarns are NON-superwash. The list is sorted by regions, starting with German-speaking countries because this is where I am from and thus these sources are most local to me. For each yarn you find a link (to ravelry or an online shop) and the country where the company is based (and sometimes where the wool is from). Some entries in the list will lead you to entire yarn companies / brands which only carry non-superwash yarns.

Switzerland

• Laines d’ici –  yarn is not sold online yet (as of February 2019)
• Lana Rara – Rare Swiss Wool – Switzerland

Austria

• Ötztaler Schafwollzentrum –  from Tyrol, Austria. Besides natural yarns for knitting and crochet you can find yarns for carpet making as well as finished carpets and wool felt for sewing and other crafts.

Germany

• Das Goldene Vlies – 100% Coburger Fuchs, more of that can be found here.
• Finkhof yarns
• Hey Mama Wolf Yarns – naturally hand dyed wool from Germany
• Lamana Como – US website states this yarn would be superwash, but the German business owners assured it is non-superwash.
• Natürliche Wolle –  100% wool yarns from endangered German sheep breeds
• Ostseeland – Wolle von unserem Hof – handspun farm yarn from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Website in German)
• Ovis Et Cetera – handdyed non-superwash yarns sourced in Europe – Germany/Netherlands
• Rauwerk – 100% wool yarns raised, spun and and processed in Bavaria
• Rico Design Linea Botanica – naturally dyed organic wool
• Rosy Green Wool Heb Merino Fine 
• Rosy Green Wool Manx Merino Fine
• Rosy Green Wool Merino d’Arles
• Raincloud & Sage
• Trolle & Wolle – natural colored yarn out of 100% South American wool
• Werdenfelser Schafwolle – natural wool from the German sheep breed “Werdenfelser Bergschaf”
• Wollmanufaktur Filges

Denmark

• G-uld – naturally dyed

Finland

• Tukuwool

France

• De Rerum Natura

Iceland

• Istex yarns, e.g. Lettlopi

Ireland

• S Twist Wool  – washed with the fermented suint method  – find stockists of this yarn here.

Norway

• Fjord Fibers – non-superwash handdyed yarn (Etsy Shop)

Portugal

• Ovelha Negra Amelia
• Retrosaria Mondim

UK

• Garthenor
• Isle Yarns – yarn from a family-run farm

• Jamieson’s of Shetland – Shetland, UK
• Jamieson & Smith – Shetland, UK
• Lauriston Farm Organic Undyed North Ronaldsay DK
• Whistlebare
• Yarn Undyed – DK Weight Sustainable New Merino
• The Fibre Co.

Canada

• Fleece and Harmony – great variety of “slow-spun” (aka ethical) wool yarns
• Lichen and Lace: Rustic Heather Sport

USA

• Abundant Earth Fiber – small fiber mill in Washington, USA
• Brooklyn Tweed – Oregon, USA
• Elsa Wool Company – Colorado, USA
• Fiber for the People Oh Merino – handdyed on a non-superwash base – Nevada, USA
• Green Mountain Spinnery – Vermont, USA
• Moonstone Dyeworks Natural Merino – handdyed on a non-superwash base – California, USA
• Noble Character Crafts  – etsy shop with handdyed non-superwash bases: “Gentle” and “Caring” – Nebraska, USA
• O-Wool Classic Worsted – Pennsylvania, USA
• O-Wool Chunky Merino – Pennsylvania, USA
• O-Wool Legacy Bulky – Pennsylvania, USA

• Oysters and Purls – naturally hand dyed in New York, USA
• Quince & Co. – Maine, USA

Note: If there is a country missing, it is because no suggestions of yarns from this country have been made yet. If you know of a business selling natural yarns in your country, please let me know! Let’s fill this page with as many countries and eco yarns as possible!

This list was last updated on Feb 16th, 2019.