RWS
RWS is a voluntary wool certification standard that covers animal welfare in sheep farming, land management, social responsibility, and distribution control of certified materials.
Contents5 sections
Definition and Overview
RWS is an international voluntary certification standard aimed at responsible wool production. It covers farm management where sheep are raised and traceability of materials in the supply chain from farms through spinning, weaving and knitting, and sewing. It is not a law itself, but a system in which certified businesses have compliance with the standard verified by third-party certification.
RWS is not a standard that indicates the type of fiber, weave structure, hand feel, or durability of wool. Therefore, even for fabric made with RWS materials, specifications such as blend ratio, yarn count, fabric weight, and finishing are confirmed separately for each product number.
Scope and How the Standard Is Interpreted
At the farm stage, the main focus is animal welfare regarding sheep health and handling, land management such as grazing land, and social consideration for workers. Compliance with the standard is confirmed within the certification scope, and management information is linked as the material moves to the next process.
At the distribution and processing stages, it is important to properly separate certified materials from non-certified materials and manage records from purchasing through shipment. This chain of custody management makes it possible to verify on paper the origin claims for certified wool used in products.
Points to Check When Procuring and Making Products
When procuring fabric, do not judge only by whether the product description says RWS. Confirm the blend ratio of the wool subject to certification, the quantity of certified material, the product number covered by the certificate, the issue date, and its validity. In wool blends, not all materials are necessarily covered by certification.
When turning it into a product, match the fabric purchase records with the transaction certificate for the certified material, and manage quantities through cutting, sewing, and shipment. When a processing partner or sewing factory is involved, check the necessary certification scope in advance and establish operations so that certified and non-certified materials do not get mixed.
- Supplier certificate and scope covered
- Transaction certificate and applicable lot
- Wool blend ratio and certified quantity
- Certification status of the supply chain including processing and sewing
Notes on Labeling and Certificates
Use of RWS-related labels and logos must be carried out under the control of certified businesses and in accordance with the standard labeling rules. Simply purchasing certified fabric does not allow free certification claims on brands or end products. Label wording should be checked against the certification scope and certificates.
RWS is sometimes handled together with non-mulesing wool, but they are not the same. Non-mulesing is an expression focused on a specific husbandry practice, whereas RWS is a certification standard that includes animal welfare, land management, social aspects, and distribution control.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the fabric is RWS-certified, can the product be labeled RWS?
It is not always possible. To make a certification claim on the final product, it is necessary to confirm the transaction certificate for the material, the certification scope from processing through shipment, and compliance with the labeling rules. Do not judge whether labeling is allowed based only on the supplier’s fabric certificate; check with the certification body or certification manager.
Are RWS and non-mulesing wool the same?
No. Non-mulesing wool is a material description that focuses on not performing mulesing. RWS, on the other hand, is a certification standard that covers animal welfare including sheep handling, as well as land management, social responsibility, and distribution control in the supply chain.
Does RWS certify wool quality?
RWS is not a certification that guarantees product quality such as fiber fineness, strength, color, hand feel, or pilling. When using it as fabric, in addition to the certification documents, you need to check the blend ratio, fabric weight, physical properties tests, colorfastness, shrinkage rate, and lot differences as usual.
