Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
Also known as: RWS, Responsible Wool
Voluntary standard by Textile Exchange for sheep wool from animal-welfare-compliant husbandry and sustainable pastures — with full traceability back to the farm.
Description
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) was published in 2016 by the international non-profit Textile Exchange (USA) and has since become the leading wool label for conventional merino. It addresses sheep farms and the entire downstream processing chain up to the finished garment.
At farm level RWS requires compliance with the five freedoms of animal welfare (freedom from hunger/thirst, from discomfort, from pain/injury/disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, from fear) and expressly prohibits the controversial mulesing — the painful removal of skin folds on the hindquarters of young lambs. It also audits land management, soil health and biodiversity. Along the processing chain strict chain-of-custody (CCS) requirements ensure that RWS wool is not mixed with conventional wool. Certification is carried out by independent bodies accredited by Textile Exchange such as Control Union or ICEA.
Properties
| Issued by | Textile Exchange (USA), since 2016 |
|---|---|
| Scope | Animal welfare (5 freedoms), mulesing ban, land management |
| Chain of Custody | Content Claim Standard (CCS) throughout processing chain |
| Certifiers | Accredited bodies (Control Union, ICEA, etc.) |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Textile Exchange - Responsible Wool Standard Textile Exchange https://textileexchange.org/responsible-wool-standard/
