What is the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)?
Developed and owned by Textile Exchange, the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) is an international, voluntary standard that focuses on animal welfare and environmental sustainability in mohair production. As a sister standard to the RWS (Responsible Wool Standard), the RMS ensures that Angora goats are raised ethically and healthily, in strict accordance with the "Five Freedoms." It also requires farmers to manage their land in harmony with nature, protecting the ecological balance, and mandates that the resulting mohair is traced through a transparent chain of custody from farm to final product.
Key Technical Criteria of RMS Certification
The RMS enforces rigorous rules across the supply chain, from farm to consumer. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:
Animal Welfare:
Angora goats must be raised in an environment free from hunger, thirst, pain, fear, and distress.
The standard requires that shearing be conducted professionally and without causing harm. Because Angora goats are highly susceptible to cold after being shorn, providing appropriate shelter and protection post-shearing is a strict mandate.
Land Management and Environmental Impact:
Farmers must adopt sustainable land management practices to protect the biodiversity of pastures, improve soil health, and conserve water resources.
Grazing plans must be implemented to prevent overgrazing, and the use of environmentally harmful chemicals is heavily restricted.
Chain of Custody:
Like other Textile Exchange standards, the RMS utilizes the Content Claim Standard (CCS) framework.
Once it leaves the farm, RMS-certified mohair is documented and physically tracked through every production stage (scouring, spinning, weaving, manufacturing) using Transaction Certificates (TCs). This strictly prevents it from being mixed with conventional mohair.
Manufacturing Phase Audits: Production facilities in the supply chain (e.g., spinning mills) applying for RMS are not audited for chemical use, wastewater management, or social criteria; the audit strictly focuses on the physical chain of custody of the certified material.
Why Choose RMS Certification with ETKO?
Transparency in the supply chain of mohair—a luxurious and durable fiber—is now an indispensable criterion for conscious consumers and global luxury brands. ETKO’s internationally accredited expert auditors independently verify the flow of RMS materials within your facility. Obtaining an RMS certificate with ETKO transparently documents that your products are manufactured with respect for ethical values and animal rights, thereby boosting your competitive edge in the market.