Responsible Wool Standard: Supply-Chain and Material Claim Review
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) supports claims related to responsible wool sourcing and supply-chain traceability. For brands and sellers, the key is not simply to say that responsible wool is used. The key is to confirm that wool material, processing steps, transaction certificates, and label claims all correspond to the same product batch.
Evidence Review Points
| Record | Purpose | Common risk |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and raw-material evidence | Support wool source and standard scope | Supplier certificate cannot be matched to actual purchase batch |
| Transaction certificate | Connect raw material, processing, and finished product | Quantity, batch, or product description is inconsistent |
| Processing scope | Confirm whether spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and garment making are controlled | Outsourced steps are not included in traceability |
| Material ratio | Confirm RWS wool percentage in the product | A component claim is expanded beyond its scope |
| Labels and listing wording | Confirm mark and wording authorization | Standard name or mark is used without review |
Listing Claim Boundaries
- State whether wool material, fabric, component, or finished product is within evidence scope.
- Do not expand an RWS material claim into all animal fibres or sustainability wording beyond the evidence scope.
- After supplier, material ratio, or factory changes, review transaction certificates and listing wording.
- Packaging, hangtags, e-commerce images, and advertising assets should use the same authorized expression.
Green Ark's Recommendation
Green Ark (Shenzhen) Certification Co., Ltd. recommends building a mapping table for raw-material batch, transaction certificate, finished SKU, and listing wording. RWS-related claims are suitable for external display only when the supply-chain evidence is complete.
