Dappld is creating a new high-value pathway for New Zealand wool by engineering it into waterproof, flexible thermal-management materials for demanding environments and infrastructure.

Our work began through hands-on development of portable outdoor products, where we explored how wool could be used to improve heat retention, protect wet surfaces, and perform in real-world conditions. That early product development revealed a much larger opportunity: using New Zealand wool as a functional biomaterial in thermal protection applications beyond traditional fibre markets.

We are now focused on specialist material manufacturing that can support future applications across infrastructure, industrial thermal protection, and other settings where durability, moisture management, flexibility, thermal containment and material integrity matter.

Dappld participated in the Fieldays Innovation Awards 2026 Prototype category and is thrilled to announce it is proudly part of the Sprout Accelerator 2026 cohort, developing this platform as a wool high value-chain innovation with global potential.