The topic of sustainability is currently on everyone’s lips in the fashion industry. Often it is about the use of sustainable materials, the type of finishing process or the manufacturing conditions of the products. However, as soon as it comes to materials that come from animals, such as leather or wool, the question of how sustainable the product is in terms of animal welfare is also relevant.
With sustainable wool, it is therefore important to know the conditions under which the animals live or have lived and whether the land on which they graze is managed sustainably. A wool product can only be described as sustainable if strict requirements are met in this area. It is also essential that independent product certification demonstrates sustainability. This gives the consumer confidence and reassurance that the product in question is truly sustainable. The “Responsible Wool Certificaat” (RWS) is the corresponding certificate.
The RWS standard requires that each stage of the production process be certified to the Content Claim Standard (CCS), a certification method based on the “chain of custody” principle, where the flow of raw materials at each stage of the production process is managed from source to is traced to the end product. The certification begins with the farmer and ends with the brand that brings the collection to market. This makes RWS a true chain certification, giving consumers insight and transparency into the origin of the products and the assurance that every step in the production process has been assessed by an independent party.
An RWS certificate may only be used for products that are made from 100% RWS-certified wool and is therefore the only recognized international sustainable quality standard that monitors animal welfare in the wool clothing production chain.
Profuomo was one of the first Dutch fashion brands to receive full RWS certification for their merino wool knitwear collection.
For the retailer, the RWS certification offers an additional sales argument. Consumers are becoming more and more critical and attach more and more importance to sustainable clothing. With the merino wool range from Profuomo, the retailer has a unique selling proposition. The product can also be washed in the washing machine on the wool program at 30°C.
Profuomo stands for timeless comfort and that is why sustainability is high on the agenda. The brand aims to produce 100% of its cotton, wool and leather goods collection in a sustainable and certified way by 2025.