kbT — certified organic animal husbandry (wool)
Also known as: kbT wool, certified organic animal husbandry
German standard for wool from organic animal husbandry — organic feed, no pesticide dips and animal-welfare-compliant shearing.
Description
The abbreviation kbT stands for kontrolliert biologische Tierhaltung (certified organic animal husbandry) and is a standard established in Germany and Austria for animal-based natural fibres such as sheep's wool, merino, alpaca or cashmere. It builds on the EU organic regulation and on stricter guidelines of recognised associations like Naturland, Bioland or Demeter. Auditing is carried out by independent inspection bodies; the label is often issued together with GOTS or IVN Best.
Core requirements are organic, GMO-free feed, limited use of synthetic veterinary drugs, no mulesing and a ban on organophosphate sheep-dips. The wool is processed without chlorine-based shrink-resist finishing (Superwash) in the strict IVN version.
- No mulesing, no castration without anaesthesia, no dehorning
- Grazing with sufficient outdoor access
- Only plant-based detergents and mild soaps during scouring
- Frequently combined with GOTS, IVN Best or Naturland certification
Properties
| Fibre type | Animal-based natural fibre (wool, merino, alpaca, cashmere) |
|---|---|
| Certifying associations | Naturland, Bioland, Demeter, IVN |
| Prohibited | Mulesing, pesticide sheep-dips, GMO feed |
| Application | Knitwear, baby wool garments, blankets, merino basics |
Related product categories
Sources & references
3- IVN — Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft naturtextil.de https://naturtextil.de/
- GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard https://global-standard.org/
- hessnatur — nachhaltige Textilien hessnatur.com https://www.hessnatur.com/
