Elevating Hemp Apparel through Standards and Traceability
Hemp is an emerging natural fiber that can revolutionize the textile supply chain as a climate-smart material. The Responsible Hemp Standard - Textiles (“RHS-Textiles”) certification program empowers the apparel industry to shape the entire hemp supply chain, from seed to fabric, aligning with climate targets and ESG goals. Raw materials within the RHS-Textiles program are tracked and traced through an immutable SaaS platform.
RHS-Textiles certification spans the entire hemp apparel supply chain and ensures the highest sustainability and ethical standards in hemp fiber cultivation, processing, and manufacturing.
Like other reputable textile fiber standards, the RHS-Textiles certification program allows brands to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing using third-party auditing and certifications of raw materials, allowing them to provide full transparency regarding the origin and sustainability of their products. This fosters accountability and empowers consumers to choose products that align with their values.
The video below demonstrates the capability of our SaaS platform to trace the complete production journey of an RHS-Textiles-certified swatch book, from farm to fabric.
Cultivation Excellence: The RHS-Textiles program emphasizes the use of sustainable, low-carbon, and low-pesticide impact cultivation methods to produce high-quality hemp fiber and fabric.
Processing Integrity: The RHS-Textiles program ensures that processing and manufacturing meet strict quality control measures, maintaining consistency and safety throughout production.
Distribution and Supply Chain Traceability: The RHS-Textiles program focuses on transparency and traceability throughout the distribution and supply chain, allowing consumers to access accurate information about product origins and quality.
Ethical Labor Practices: The RHS-Textiles program upholds fair labor practices, promoting worker welfare and social responsibility across the hemp fabric supply chain.
Environmental Stewardship: The RHS-Textiles program encourages environmentally responsible practices across the hemp fabric supply chain, reducing the industry's environmental impact.
Product Safety and Quality Assurance: The RHS-Textiles program implements strict testing and quality assurance measures to ensure that hemp textile products meet the highest quality and safety standards.
Legal Compliance: The RHS-Textiles program ensures compliance with local and international laws and regulations, maintaining ethical boundaries in the industry.
Consumer Education: The RHS-Textiles program emphasizes educating consumers about hemp textile products, including their benefits, risks, and proper usage, promoting responsible consumption.
SaaS Track and Trace Platform: The RHS-Textiles program utilizes a state-of-the-art SaaS platform through its partner Bext360 to enable comprehensive traceability and monitoring of hemp raw materials throughout the supply chain, enhancing transparency and trust.
Continuous Improvement: The RHS-Textiles program encourages participants to continually improve their practices, fostering ongoing advancements in quality, sustainability, and ethical labor standards within the hemp fabric supply chain
Pillars of the RHS - Textiles Program
RHS-Textiles Certification Spans the Supply Chain from Field to Finished Garment
Why Hemp?
Here are a few reasons to consider choosing hemp as a natural fiber alternative for apparel manufacturing:
Protects skin by naturally filtering UV light
Natural moisture-wicking properties
Does not retain body odor
Four times the strength of cotton
Superior dye retention
Will not stretch out of shape
Soft on the skin
Wears in, not out
Will not shrink if washed with cold water
Natural antibacterial characteristics
Resistant to mildew and mold
Requires less water and fewer pesticides to grow than cotton
Sequesters CO2 in the soil and its biomass as it grows
The RHS-Textiles program allows brands to demonstrate their commitment to responsible fiber sourcing by having a clear supply chain and sourcing policy. Develop internal policies that prioritize and support organic, preferred, or regenerative farming practices that avoid the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers for hemp production.
The RHS-Textiles program allows brands to foster long-term relationships with farmers, investing in organic and regenerative agriculture projects developed in partnership with them to support responsible farming practices and fair prices.
The RHS-Textiles program ensures a reliable system and identification process to verify sustainability claims and ensure traceability in the sourcing of hemp, and other raw materials, through to finished garments.
The RHS-Textiles program allows for the continued development of environmental and social due diligence systems. Monitoring potential and actual impacts within fiber and material supply chains and supporting remediation where brands have caused or contributed to negative impacts.
What RHS-Textiles Ensures for Brands
Take the First Step Toward RHS-Textiles Certification
