Responsible Wool Standard
The Responsible Wool Standard is a voluntary global standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and of the land they graze on.
Want to Get Involved?
Demonstrate your brand’s leadership and commitment to sustainability by helping to fast-forward the adoption of the Responsible Wool Standard through our Kick Start program.
Send out demand signal and support farmers
Build scale to spread the cost of certification
Priority access to support from Textile Exchange
Latest News
RWS Training, Argentina – 27 June, 2017
We invite you to attend our RWS training event in Trelew, Argentina in collaboration with STS Focus [...]
June 20, 2017 IWG Meeting
A Responsible Wool Standard IWG meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at [...]
Shanghai & London RWS Training Materials Available!
Thank you to all who attended our two previous RWS trainings in Shanghai and London. [...]
Victoria’s Avington Merinos is Australia’s first Responsible Wool Standard farm
By Terry Sim, 15 May 2017 AUSTRALIA’S first wool-growing properties have been certified under the [...]
Our Goals
The goals of the Responsible Wool Standard are to provide the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that wool comes from farms with a progressive approach to managing their land, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly.
How does the RWS work
The Responsible Wool Standard is an independent, voluntary standard, which means that companies can choose to become certified. On farms, the certification ensures that sheep are treated with respect to their five freedoms and also ensures best practices in the management and protection of the land. Through production, certification ensures that wool for certified farms is properly identified and tracked.
RWS Key Points
Protecting Animal Welfare
The Five Freedoms of sheep are protected at all times, referencing standards and best practices around the world.
Preserving Land Health
Progressive methods of land management are practiced on RWS farms, protecting soil health, biodiversity and native species.
Supply Chain Traceability
The identity of the RWS wool is maintained at all times: from the farm to the final product. Consumers can have full confidence that the wool in a product carrying the RWS logo comes from responsibly managed farms.
Credible Certification
A professional, third party certification body audits each stage in the supply chain.
Confident Communication
Only products with 100% certified wool may carry the RWS logo.
Stakeholder Engagement
Our process of standard development is open and inclusive. The RWS was developed with the input of farmers, animal welfare experts, land conservation experts, brands and retailers from all parts of the globe.