Wool takes the place of wiring, plastic and circuit boards in electronic devices created by designer Hinna Khan, a recent Central Saint Martins graduate inspired to find a new use for the material after watching farming documentaries.

Still in early development, Khan‘s WoolTech is made from a novel wool-based biomaterial, in which conductive pathways can be created using lasers.

This carbonises the material so it carries electricity, while the un-carbonised sections provide natural insulation.

The innovation could help to tackle the issue of e-waste, reimagining components that are usually made from a mix of metals and petrochemicals using a single organic, biodegradable material.

It could also help to lower demand for mined metals, which are associated with dangerous working conditions and child exploitation. However, Khan originally came to the idea after exploring solutions to a different problem: wool waste.

From watching farming documentaries – especially Clarkson’s Farm, following former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson – she learnt that farmers in the UK have been shearing sheep purely for animal welfare reasons, with the wool itself having little value.