The Responsible Alpaca Standard aims to improve the welfare of alpacas and the the ecosystems in which they are raised

The Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) is a voluntary standard that requires all sites, from alpaca farms through to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction, to be certified. RAS farmers and ranchers are evaluated against animal welfare, land management, and social requirements set in the standard.

We’re transitioning to the Materials Matter Standard and system

We’re unifying and harmonizing our current suite of standards into the Materials Matter Standard, a voluntary sustainability standard for the production and primary processing of raw materials used in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. It represents a pivotal shift in connecting this work more directly to measurable outcomes for climate, nature, people, and animals.

The new standard sets detailed requirements for the production and primary processing of raw materials—from how land, water, and energy are used, to how working conditions, animal welfare, emissions, chemicals, and waste are managed. Its purpose is to provide a common language and shared direction for the industry, while recognizing the unique contexts of different material producers, processors, and the communities and landscapes they depend on.

The criteria for Materials Matter Standard were released on December 12, 2025, with the standard becoming effective on December 31, 2026 and mandatory from December 31, 2027. From that point, all Tier 4 organizations will need to complete their next audit to the new standard to maintain their certification.

For more information on the timeline, transition, and relevant information regarding mohair, please visit the Materials Matter Standard and standards transition pages.

Find out more about the transition

GOALS

Setting criteria for progressive agricultural practices that are better for animals and the land

Give the industry a tool that identifies farming best practices and incentivizes producers to meet these requirements.
Help to verify that alpaca wool in a given product comes from farms that take a progressive approach to land management and respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare.
Provide a strong chain of custody for certified materials as they move along the supply chain.
Strengthen companies’ claims that the products they sell contain certified material.

HOW IT WORKS

Incentivizing best practices and managing chain of custody

Animal welfare
The Five Freedoms of animal welfare are incorporated into the criteria for the Responsible Alpaca Standard.
Land health
Progressive methods of land management are checked on certified farms to help protect soil health, biodiversity, and native species.
Social welfare
The standard criteria also cover social welfare, working conditions, and the health and safety of workers associated with farms.
Credible certification
A professional, third-party certification body audits each stage in the supply chain starting at the farm.
Chain of custody
Chain of custody documents and verifies the path certified materials take through all stages of the supply chain to the final product. Learn more
Confident communication
Products that meet the minimum requirements for certification may be labeled with the Responsible Alpaca Standard logo.
Stakeholder engagement
The standard is developed with the input of farmers, animal welfare experts, land conservation experts, brands, and retailers from all parts of the globe.

Resources

Dive deeper into the RAS

See all resources

DEVELOPMENT

Previous revisions and changes

Version 1.0 of the Responsible Alpaca Standard was released on April 20, 2021.

GET INVOLVED

Take the next steps in your certification journey

Brand and retailers

Start sourcing certified alpaca fibers or get certified yourself.

Suppliers

Use our standards to offer products that contain certified alpaca.

Farms

Start the certification process to our Responsible Alpaca Standard.

Find a certified company

Consult our directory to find suppliers or confirm whether a company is certified to the RAS.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question not answered here, get in touch with us directly, and we’ll be happy to answer it for you.

Are Textile Exchange standards recognized globally?

Yes, all our standards apply globally. You can use our logos worldwide as long as you meet the requirements for logo use and claims.

Do you have translations of your standards available in other languages?

Visit the Document Library to see all standards documents. For some, translations are available.

Can I use your standards to know the identity of an alpaca farm?

Our standards aren’t designed to provide full supply chain transparency. If you’re interested in doing the work of identifying all of sites, then you need to work directly with your suppliers and request that they disclose their sources to you. We are working on the development of a traceability system, however. You can learn more here.