RWS – Responsible Wool Standard
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) provides an opportunity for farmers to demonstrate their best practices to the public, and a means for brands and consumers to have the certainty that the wool products they buy and sell are in line with their values. Control Union Certifications BV is accredited by SLAB for this scheme under registration nr. CP 004-01.
Responsible Wool Standard
About the standard
It applies to all sites in the wool supply chain. From the farm, wool processing and assembly of final products, through to the seller in the last business-to-business transaction. After the farm level, certification falls under the Responsible Animal Fibre (RAF) umbrella, which includes the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) and Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS).
The Standard applies to products containing at least 5% RWS wool, calculated as a percentage of the material. Final products containing uncertified virgin wool may not be labelled with the RWS name or logo.
The material is tracked from the farm to the final product through transaction certificates, following the requirements of Textile Exchange’s Content Claim Standard (CCS).
Objectives
The objectives of RWS are to provide the industry with the best possible tool to:
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Recognize farmers’ best practices;
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Ensure that wool comes from farms with a progressive approach to land management and from sheep that have been treated responsibly;
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Create an industry benchmark that drives improvements in animal care, land management and social welfare where needed;
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Provide a strong chain of custody system from farm to final product so consumers can trust that the wool in the products they choose is truly RWS.
Scope
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Applies to all sites in the wool supply chain: from the farm, wool processing and assembly of final products, through to the seller in the last business-to-business transaction. After the farm level, certification falls under the Responsible Animal Fibre (RAF) umbrella, which includes the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) and Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS).
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Can be applied globally.
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RWS applies only to sites in the wool supply chain. Recycled wool is not eligible for certification.
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Applies to products containing at least 5% RWS wool, calculated as a percentage of the material. Final products containing uncertified virgin wool may not be labelled with the RWS name or logo.
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May also apply to wool processing by-products, such as lanolin or wool grease, where 100% of the wool processing by-products come from RWS wool.
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May also apply to non-food slaughter by-products. Use of the RWS logo is not permitted, although text claims about the origin of the by-products are allowed.
Benefits
Certification goes beyond a simple formal requirement, acting as a driver of continuous improvement, operational process optimization and legal compliance. It also enables new business opportunities, facilitates access to specific markets and strengthens relationships with customers and partners.
The benefits of RWS certification are:
- Providing the industry with a comprehensive tool to recognize best farming practices,
- Ensuring the responsible origin of wool through progressive land management and proper treatment of sheep,
- Establishing a standard that promotes improvements in animal welfare, land management and social welfare, while ensuring a reliable chain of custody from farm to final product, giving consumers confidence in the authenticity of RWS wool.
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