RWS Supply Chain
Scourer
Farm
Fabric Mill
Spinner
Brand/Retailer
Garment Maker
Farm
The farm is where sheep are raised and bred.
Fuhrmann S.A. | Argentina
Furhmann S.A.
Fuhrmann S.A. is part of Gschneider Group. Is the only vertically integrated combing mill in the world managing 11 farms currently and combing 9 million kgs of greasy wool per year. It is the largest exporter and processor of G.O.T.S. wool tops in the world and the largest exporter of wool from Argentina. Being immersed in the unique wilderness of Patagonia we believe in a sustainable way of life that inspires people to challenge themselves, to reach our for nature and to take the road less traveled. All our production is Non Mulesed.
Location / Countries of operation: Located entirely in Trelew, Chubut Province Argentina we operate worldwide.
Contact e-mail: willy.gallia@fuhrmann1735.com
Web link: https://fuhrmann-argentina.com/
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Because we wish to do things in the best possible way and our internal protocol of animal welfare was in lines with RWS certification.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
It means we will standarize our work methods, question and improve them. Also we will get the credibility that a third party certification brings inn.
Lanas Trinidad | Uruguay
Lanas Trinidad
Lanas Trinidad is a traditional wool company with roots extending back to 1916. Jointly owned by Chargeurs and the Otegui Family, it is the main producer and exporter of combed wool tops in Uruguay. Our products are exported worldwide to customers who demand the highest quality. With an industrial capacity of 10 million kg of combed wool tops ranging between 18 and 30 mic., Lanas Trinidad achieves excellence thanks to the highly skilled personnel and state-of-the-art technology throughout the production process.
Lanas Trinidad is not only committed to animal welfare and responsible land management, but also proper working conditions for its labor force, good stewardship of the environment and generation of energy with renewable resources from its waste water treatment process. By adhering to these principles, we have developed Lanas Trinidad as a sustainable business. We hope that we can help to spread this ethical way of thinking throughout the industry.
Location / Countries of operation: Uruguay
Contact e-mail: CwUruguay@wtp.com.uy
Web link: lanastrinidad.com
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
More and more, customers are looking for sustainable products. If natural & renewable much better. Wool perfectly fits these features!
Wool supply chain is so long that sometimes its parts are fragmented … big distances, logistics, seasonality.
Textile Exchange – Responsible Wool Standard are bringing people together, with more transparency, which is good for everybody.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
The more informed customers are, the happier farmers will be! In between, all the supply chain has to row in the same direction. The RWS is in contact with brands and retailers which at the end are the ones to decide the kind of raw material that will be used in their products.
Glendemar Merino | Australia
Glendemar Multi Purpose Merino
Glendemar is a family run business, currently managed by Ben Duxson, his wife Cheryl and children Ava and Jimmy. Ben is the 6th generation of Duxsons to be involved in the farm that is situated in the Wimmera district of Victoria. Glendemar is one of the main seedstock breeders of merino sheep within Australia and also have an influence on the significant Ovis XI network in South America as a source of breeding material. We strive to incorporate the latest technology and innovation alongside sound ecology and sustainability management of our most important assets, our land, our animals and our people.
Location / Countries of operation: Victoria Australia
Contact e-mail: glendemar@gmail.com
Web link: www.glendemarfarm.com.au
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
RWS is a vertically-integrated integrity system, from the farmer to the end brand retailer, all have a stake in producing the highest quality, sustainable and ethically produced products possible. We can see being involved gets us closer to the end users of our products and informs them of our practices on farm.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
It provides buyers with a guarantee that we are striving to produce the best possible product for their end users. It is a commitment by us to sustainable, ethical and best possible management on our farm, that we look to build for future generations.
Murrayfield | Tasmania
Murrayfield
Murrayfield was purchased in 2001 by the Indigenous Land Corp as part of a programme to hand back land to traditional owners.
The ILC is a statutory body that has properties scattered all over Australia but Murrayfield is the only sheep property. Part of its agenda is to train Indigenous people to manage these properties and over the years MF has had a number people going through this process and currently we have just started 3 school based apprentices in rural studies.
Murrayfield is about making a sustainable return on its inputs while maintaining the desires of the Traditional Owners which include protection of their culture, environment and maintain their asset for future generations.
Location / Countries of operation: Murrayfield is situated on the north end of Bruny Island which is in Storm Bay south of Hobart Tasmania.
Contact e-mail: murrayfieldstation@ilc.gov.au
Web link: under repair
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
To have someone outside our business overview our production systems and give us advice and also to offer some form of protection if we have outside bodies that want to denigrate the way we manage the property.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
A system by which we can work to that in the end allows us to be audited against and currently there is nothing like RWS in Australia for the wool industry. It just makes you feel good to be part of a movement that will allow buyers of woolen garments a guarantee that the wool was grown responsibly.
New Zealand Merino | New Zealand
The New Zealand Merino Company Ltd
The New Zealand Merino Company Limited (NZM) is an integrated sales, marketing, and innovation company and whilst initially focused on transforming New Zealand’s Merino sheep industry have extended into the mid-micron and strong wool sectors.
For grower suppliers, NZM drive value for their wool by creating consumer demand for brands at retail. Our supplier partners enjoy the certainty and confidence that comes from guaranteed supply and price. We partner with world renowned companies that specialise in what they do e.g. scouring, top making, spinning, knitting, weaving and garment manufacture. For brand partners, NZM operate as a business extension, giving greater depth to their business with expertise specific to their brand.
Location / Countries of operation: New Zealand, Australia, South Africa
Contact e-mail: Rhiannon.james@nzmerino.co.nz
Web link: www.discoverzq.com
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Both our organization have the same objective to address animal welfare and land environment within our respective certification programmes.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
Provides recognition of wool fibre growers that are engaged in best practice for their animals and their land.
Ovis 21 | South America
Ovis 21
Ovis 21 is a Certified B Corp and a founding Hub of the Savory Network. Focused on grassland regeneration and increasing profitability thru collaboration and implementation of best practices. Leading Spanish speaking Training Center for Holistic Management, developer of the GRASS Standard and manager of a wide network of livestock farmers, technicians and related industries; Ovis 21 has extensive knowledge in sheep, wool and land management; as well as permanent collaboration with NGO´s and extension services promoting the knowledge and practices, to change from an extractive to a regenerative farming paradigm.
Location / Countries of operation: Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Contact e-mail: Bill Parker wbparker59@gmail.com | Ricardo J. Fenton rjfenton@ovis21.com
Web link: www.ovis21.com/en (english) | www.ovis21.com (spanish)
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
The need for a common language and a progressive standard that addressed animal welfare and land management issues, was met with the development of the RWS. This permits famers that are members of the Ovis 21 network and are applying advanced practices in animal husbandry and land management to be able to supply brands that want to support these practices.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
A great opportunity to collaborate with different stakeholders in the improvement in practices; and also in the communicating of the importance in proper livestock management and land use on a global scale, in the fight against climate change and the production of environmentally friendly food and fiber.
BKB | South Africa
BKB
BKB is a wool broker that provides a range of services to our producers. Our main activities are focused in the genetic improvement of sheep flocks, and providing excellent logistical services to the wool industry. All our wool is sold on auction in Port Elizabeth.
Location / Countries of operation: South Africa and Lesotho
Contact e-mail: staats@bkb.co.za
Web link: bkb.co.za
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Looking at the RWS standards, we saw the opportunity to establish an industry wide standard for sustainable farming practices. South African farmers in general need to take extra care of their animals since it is a difficult environment. We liked the idea that we will produce according to market requirements. We support the way of thinking about sustainability and animal welfare. These values are deeply entrenched in the South African way of thinking.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
It means that our product appeals to a customer that holds the same values we do. We had to take a long hard look at our own practices, and adapt where necessary. It is always good to have a fresh pair of eyes looking at old practices. Since we have started working with RWS we have changed, a number of old practices. We have found that our producers easily adapted to the new way of thinking.
Fox & Lillie | Australia
Fox & Lillie
Founded in 1948, Fox & Lillie is 100% Australian family-owned and operated agribusiness.
Fox & Lillie operates two core businesses in wool. Fox & Lillie is the company’s wool trading and export business and is one of the largest buyers and exporters of Australian wool and a major buyer of wool from other countries, supplying all types of greasy wool and processed wool.
Fox & Lillie Rural is the company’s direct buying and wool brokerage arm of the company, with an extensive network of regional branches and representatives connecting the company to a large cross section of Australian woolgrowers.
The successful integration of the two businesses provides important benefits to the company’s woolgrower clients and export customers and sets Fox & Lillie apart from all others. With an extensive range of domestic and international networks, the woolgrower and the end user are now closer together than ever before.
Location / Countries of operation: Australia; supplies globally
Contact e-mail: Fox & Lillie Trading: trading@foxandlillie.com.au | Fox & Lillie’s Responsible Wool Standard Manager: bellapg@flrural.com.au
Web link: www.foxandlillie.com.au
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Fox & Lillie chose to work with the Responsible Wool Standard to enhance marketing opportunities and relationships for the company’s woolgrower clients and export customers.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
The RWS moves away from traditional methods of selling wool and focusses on a traceable supply chain from the wool producer right through to the brand with this knowledge benefiting both the producer and the consumers of these wool products and everyone in between.
Imperial Stock Ranch | USA
Imperial Stock Ranch
The Imperial Stock Ranch (est. 1871) is located in the high desert of north central Oregon, and has been raising sheep, cattle, grains and hay for more than 147 years. The ranch headquarters are a National Historic District, the only operating ranch in Oregon with that designation. Family owned and operated, they believe their most important work is managing the interconnected relationships of land and grazing animals. In 1999, they began a successful transition from selling wool as a commodity to selling American made wool yarns, fabrics and finished goods, forming strong relationships across the U.S. textile supply chain in the process. In 2014, they supplied the wool yarns used by Ralph Lauren for the Opening Ceremony uniforms for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Today they continue as leaders in sustainable ranching practices, were the first ranch in the U.S. certified under the RWS, and having sold their wool textile business, continue the long tradition of sheep and wool production as part of their ranching operation.
Location / Countries of operation: Columbia Plateau, North Central Oregon, USA
Contact e-mail: Jeanne Carver: Jeanne@imperialstockranch.com
Web link: www.imperialstockranch.com
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Imperial Stock Ranch came to the RWS program through the request of brand partners who needed producers of wool to be 3rd party audited for land and animal practices. In looking at the proposed standard at the time, it required little change to our existing practices; and our experience in the markets with customers and brand partners had already revealed the importance that transparency and certifications can have on consumer confidence.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
Being RWS certified means we’re aligned with brands and customers who recognize the value of good agricultural practices. It is an important step in deepening the connections and relationships from the origins of wool fibers to the array of amazing products those fibers become.
Australian Wool Network | Australia
Australian Wool Network Pty Ltd
Established in 1999 with the vision of bringing woolgrowers and wool processors closer together, the Australian owned Australian Wool Network (AWN) is the largest, independent, national wool marketing and brokering company in the country.
In 2014, AWN acquired a knitwear manufacturing business and launched their ‘Grow, Make, Wear’ (GMW) strategy. AWN is the only wool marketing/brokering company with an Australian based manufacturing facility to make their own merino wool fashion and next-to-skin apparel, accessories and homewares.
More recently in mid-2018, AWN advanced to the final chapter in their GMW strategy – ‘Wear’ and launched their own online store: ‘Merino & Co – the home of the world’s most desirable fibre, merino.’ Under this master brand sit their premier modern merino wool labels: ‘Only Merino’, ‘Hedrena’ and ‘MerinoSnug’.
AWN continues to focus on extending its original vision to connect their woolgrowers right through the processing pipeline to a finished garment and to the wool wearing consumer. AWN calls this a ‘Direct Network Advantage’ or DNA. With this program providing wool provenance is the priority. Each DNA garment boasts a QR-enabled DNA swing tag that showcases the woolgrowers who contributed to the making of the garment, their sheep and the environment in which the wool was grown along with some great local wool growing stories.
Location / Countries of operation: Australia and China
Contact e-mail: wooladmin@woolnetwork.com.au
Web link: Website: woolnetwork.com.au | Facebook: Australian Wool Network |Instagram: @woolnetworkaus #woolnetworkaus
| Twitter: @woolnetwork | Vimeo: woolnetwork
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
By participating in the RWS program we have a greater opportunity to;
- open up the conversation with consumers, about where the fibre in their clothes come from.
- encourage consumers to choose clothes which are made using a fibre that is sustainable, environmentally acceptable
- encourage consumers to choose clothes from suppliers/a supply chain that have manufactured them responsibly
- encourage our wool growers and suppliers to be as committed to excellence as we are, and share our vision to continual improve, innovate and bridge the gap between wool growers, wool processors and consumers.
- collaborate and work with our industry peers to create a supply chain that is globally recognised for its willingness to constantly evaluate, listen and improve for a higher purpose
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
Working with RWS provides us with a framework by which we can conduct our business and can encourage others to do the same.
Wools of New Zealand | New Zealand
Wools of New Zealand
We’re 100% owned by the farming families who grow our wool and, like all New Zealanders, they care about passing on our world to the next generation in as good, if not better, condition than it is now. By being accountable, traceable and sustainable at all times, we aim to lead the world in growing the highest quality wool in the most environmentally sensitive way.
Our specialty is strong wool for beds, upholstery and carpets. We have our own independently audited integrity programme covering animal welfare, land management and social welfare. As well as RWS we are the world’s first and only farms accredited to provide EU Ecolabel greasy wool right from the farm and to promote our wool under the famous Wools of New Zealand trademark which can be applied to products made from our wool.
Location / Countries of operation: New Zealand
Contact e-mail: info.nz@woolsnz.com
Web link: Website: www.woolsnz.com
Why did you decide to become RWS certified?
Although we already had an integrity programme, Laneve, the RWS creates the potential to ensure wool itself is respected as a responsibly produced fibre. A global standard allows us to ensure best practice is applied across the world and helps our partners to source to a common standard across multiple suppliers. Mostly it forces brands to be truly transparent about the materials they use.
What does working with the RWS mean for you?
Our farmers are enormously proud to be part of a new important standard and to connect with brands that care as much as they do about animal husbandry and guardianship of our lovely planet. The RWS is about integrity. We can see who is embracing change and who is fighting to protect poor growing and trading practices. The RWS is shining a light on the good guys.