We want our standards to include input from every corner of the industry.

alpacas looking at camera.

We follow the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice for all bodies that set standards to make sure we have a robust, transparent process in place. Our priorities are to include all the parties that might be affected by a standard in the process, and to create tools with criteria that are both strict and realistic. We develop all our standards through an International Working Group (IWG), which represents all the relevant parties, including animal welfare groups, brands, farmers, supply chain members, industry associations, and retailers.

HOW IT WORKS

Our standards are reviewed every five years.

The ASR-102 Textile Exchange Standard Setting Procedures document sets out the process for developing and revising standards. We form an IWG and review our standards every five years at a minimum to make sure they stay relevant, effective, and reflective of best practices. Side by side with each revision we review any supporting documentation. This includes certification procedures, implementation manuals, user manuals, farmer guidebooks, and logo use and claims guides.

fabric scraps.
TRANSITION

We’re moving towards one unified standard by the end of 2023.

In July 2021, we began a sweeping revision of our standards system. We’re setting out to harmonize our eight standards into a single, more outcome-focused one that lets us track progress more efficiently and effectively. While we’re working with one IWG to develop the unified standard, we’ll keep connected to smaller subject matter expert groups that will inform our decision.

woman with two alpacas

Standards Timeline

Upcoming revisions to our standards

Any upcoming revisions to our standards will now be rolled into our wider standards transition. This includes the Recycled Claim Standard and Global Recycled Standard revisions we started in April 2021.

StandardCurrent versionRevision date
Content Claim Standard (CSS)3.1, 9 June 2022Reassessment as part of the standards transition
Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS)1.0, 20 April 2021Rolled into the standards transition
Recycled Content Standard (RCS)2.0, 1 January 2017Rolled into the standards transition
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)4.0, 1 January 2017Rolled into the standards transition
Responsible Down Standard (RDS)3.0, 1 July 2019Rolled into the standards transition
Organic Content Standard (OCS)3.0, 1 March 2020Rolled into the standards transition
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)2.2, 1 October 2020Rolled into the standards transition
Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)1.2, 1 October 2021Rolled into the standards transition
Documentation Timeline

Revising key documents

We’ve also got some dates in the calendar to review our key policies and other documents.

DocumentCurrent versionRevision date
ASR-101 Accreditation and Certification Procedures for Textile Exchange Standards2.1, 1 July, 2022 2023
ASR-102 Textile Exchange Standard Setting Procedures3.0, 16 November, 20212024
TE-301 Standards Claims Policy (Logo Use and Claims Guide)1.2, 4 February, 20222023
Resources

Dive deeper into standards development

GET INVOLVED

Share your feedback on our standards

We’re committed to constant improvement. That’s why we’ll be opening up multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback throughout our standards transition. You can share yours through our Standards Feedback Form. We’ll be opening up public consultations as we revise our key documents too.