Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) Certification Explained

Type: Cruelty-Free

Country: International

Established: 2016

Scope

Wool from sheep

Audit rigor

Level: third-party-audit. Supply-chain verified: Yes.

Cost for brands

Annual audit fee. Full farm-to-product chain certification.

Recognized in

Global

Notes

Certifies that wool comes from farms with progressive land management where sheep are treated with respect. Specifically prohibits mulesing. RWS is an animal welfare standard, not a vegan one. RWS-certified wool is still wool — a product of animal exploitation. The standard's existence is sometimes used to market wool to ethical consumers, but it does not affect vegan status.