Sheep's wool used to cover a glacier

Sheep's wool was placed on a glacier in the Swiss Alps during the summer of 2026 as part of an experiment to see if it could reduce ice melting. The wool was used instead of traditional plastic covers, which have been used for decades to protect glaciers.

Students conducted the experiment

Four students from the University of Lausanne carried out the experiment on the 3000 glacier in the Diablerets. They installed two blocks of biodegradable wool, each covering 100 m², on June 22, 2026. The wool was produced by Fisolan, a local company.

A control group was included

A geotextile cover of the same size was placed on the glacier as a control to compare the effectiveness of the wool. The site is also used for snow storage in the summer to ensure enough snow for ski slopes in the winter.

Monitoring the glacier's response

The students measured the amount of snow and ice loss every two weeks using stakes placed in the center of each covered area. To keep the wool covers in place despite strong winds, they used recycled malt bags filled with gravel.

Wool performed well in harsh conditions

Initial results suggest that the wool covers provided protection similar to the conventional geotextile covers. The wool also remained intact and did not degrade despite the extreme high-altitude conditions.

Results are still preliminary

According to the Summit Foundation, the wool prototypes appear to offer protection comparable to traditional covers. However, these findings are still preliminary and require further study to confirm their long-term effectiveness.