Overview
- Researchers installed two 10×10 m sheep-wool blankets and a 100 m² synthetic geotextile on the Tsanfleuron glacier on 22 June 2026 to measure summer melt protection.
- A preliminary evaluation released in early September found the wool prototypes reduced melt at levels comparable to the conventional geotextile in the short term.
- The trial used two wool densities, 400 g/m² and 750 g/m², and required wool equal to roughly the annual output of 400 sheep, with measurements taken about every two weeks.
- Organizers say the work aims to offer a biodegradable option to limit microplastic release from degrading synthetics and to give value to Swiss wool that is often discarded.
- Project leaders warn the findings are early and that further analysis is needed on long‑term durability, environmental lifecycle impacts, cost and whether wider use is practical given the small scale of covers.