Merino Wool (and Possom) Sweater

That's right, 40% Possom

While downtown in Napier, we did some shopping and I bought a wonderfully soft mostly wool sweater. After I tried it on and loved it I read the label and found out it was 40% possum. What? Possums here are not like opossums at home – we have giant rats, but in NZ they have soft furry mammals. They are also an invasive species that is threatening the trees and wildlife, so slaughtering them for their fur is an environmentally friendly thing to do. Feeling good about my effort to help the indiginous flora and fauna, I swiped my credit card and haven’t looked back.

From McDonald’s website:

New Zealand’s unique native forest is under attack. Throughout the country 80 million Possums destroy 22,000 tonnes of our indigenous flora every night. With no natural predators, this introduced pest is striking at the very best of our landscape. Competing with native birdlife for food and habitat,the Possum feeds on native trees such as rata, totara and kowhai while posing a significant threat to New Zealand’s distinctive national icon – the Kiwi. This ecological crisis originates from the 19th Century when Possums were introduced to New Zealand to establish a fur trade. Today, the industry is environmentally focused and plays a vital part in controlling Possum numbers. Possum Merino is an environmentally conscious choice – wearing a McDonald garment allows you to contribute towards a sustainable future for New Zealand’s flora and fauna.