The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme launch in mid-2024 has strengthened standards that are aligned across both SustainaWOOL and ResponsiWOOL, which means the previous GOLD level will be removed. 

Every property with an AWSS Certificate of Compliance has completed a successful desktop audit with their application including Operator declarations and commitments to the AWSS Grower Standard. A successful annual desktop audit is a condition of certification. Desktop compliance reviews of the Australian auction catalogue are undertaken by AWEX each week.

Wool lots offered for sale as either SustainaWOOL (Scheme code 'SW') or ResponsiWOOL (Scheme code 'RE') are audited for current and correct certification, and against quality and integrity requirements.

On-farm inspections of Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme certified properties are carried out regularly. This is currently undertaken by professional inspectors from the Australian Wool Exchange and will soon be moving to a third-party verifying entity.

Yes. The AWSS standard regarding caring for the environment reflects the belief that to be environmentally sustainable, on-farm practices must include regenerative environmental practices.

To meet the caring for the environment pillar, AWSS growers use regenerative practices known to nurture and restore soil health, protect water resources and biodiversity, and enhance their farms productivity, profitability, and resilience to climate change.

Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme quality standards include mandatory use of WoolClip (digital wool specifications) and eBale technology (with unique eBale IDs), to enable digital traceability and integrity from farm to first stage processing.  

Every lot of wool offered for sale through the Australian auction system is verified for catalogue compliance by the AWSS team to confirm, pre-sale, that any wool in specified bale lots marked with the SustainaWOOL (SW) or ReponsiWOOL (RE) catalogue code is correct.   

Lots with a SustainaWOOL or ResponsiWOOL Scheme code are checked for valid Certificate of Compliance property status, and that clip preparation and integrity requirements have been met. Measures are taken to include or remove code listings to ensure accuracy and integrity.

Wool currently in store certified as meeting SustainaWOOL Gold (Scheme Codes = SWAU) can be offered with this code until June 30, 2025.
These bales / lots are not required to meet new criteria of WoolClip and ePack use. SustainaWOOL Gold is closed for new lots from July 15, 2024.

Wool currently in store certified as meeting SustainaWOOL Green (Scheme Codes = SW) can be offered with this code until June 30, 2025.
These bales / lots are not required to meet new criteria of WoolClip and ePack use.

Wool currently in store certified as meeting SustainaWOOL Blue (previous Scheme Codes = SW plus NWD declared as AA or LN), will need to be offered with Scheme code = RE until June 30, 2025. These bales / lots are not required to meet new criteria of WoolClip and ePack use.

The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme (AWSS) connects Australian wool growers with brokers, buyers, processors and brands from around the world who share a common vision - of a wool industry that can celebrate and specify the highest standards of sustainability, integrity, and clip preparation, using technology to improve efficiency and enable traceability. 

The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme offers two types of certification: SustainaWOOL and ResponsiWOOL.  

Both meet our sustainability standards across the board and differ only in one aspect of caring for sheep, which is breech modification status. 

This allows the Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme to be inclusive of different wool production systems in Australia, while importantly having clear separation for customers for whom purchasing non-mulesed wool is important.

To maximise competition and market access for their wool by managing and maintaining their properties, businesses, and the animals in their care, using world-class and recognised sustainable practices that help deliver ongoing viability and success of their enterprises and that of the Australian wool industry. 

As an Australian sustainability scheme, the program aligns with key Australian wool industry programs, minimising duplication, and inefficiency of on-farm practice verification.  

Using digital AWEX services and innovations such as WoolClip and eBale, choosing to be part of the Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme can give the wool grower, their selling agent and buyers access to credible, fast, and cost-effective certification for lots of wool from a compliant property both at auction or privately sold and post-sale.

Australian: With sustainability standards and metrics developed for the unique Australian environment, complimented by alignment with leading and recognised Australian industry programs, the Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme is purpose-built for the Australian wool industry. 

Credible:
As every farming enterprise and property is different, AWSS accreditation is at a Property Identification Code (PIC) level. A Property Identification Code (PIC) is a unique code allocated by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or an equivalent authority in each state or territory to identify a livestock-producing property in Australia. AWSS does not offer group certification.

Standards and verification:
With an independent Expert Panel providing advice regarding Standards, metrics, and evidence requirements, as well as on-farm inspections, you can have confidence in a SustainaWOOL or ResponsiWOOL certification. Weekly catalogue audits are also conducted to verify every lot of wool listed as SW or RE in the Australian auction catalogue is from an Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme certified property. 

Digital traceability:
By utilising AWEX’s WoolClip and eBale technologies, digital traceability begins on-farm, and enables fast, credible, cost-effective certification to first stage processing. These modern traceability tools can help reduce the administrative load and time required for wool traceability. 

On-farm focus:
The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme focuses on assuring sustainable on-farm practices and the quality clip preparation of the wool in the bale.
Certifications of wool lots from SustainaWOOL or ResponsiWOOL accredited properties do not demand chain of custody tracing to garment or come with additional traceability requirements beyond the bale.  Instead, SustainaWOOL or ResponsiWOOL certification can be an input to a chosen downstream traceability solution.

Animal wellbeing focus:
The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme recognises that animal wellbeing covers a broad range of issues and that an equally broad range of on-farm practices should be adopted to ensure sheep are given the best care on-farm.
AWSS recognises the importance of pain management for animal wellbeing so from July 2025, will require the use of appropriate pain relief administration for tail docking and castration.
If mulesing or liquid nitrogen breech modification is required as part of a sheep health and wellbeing plan (ResponsiWOOL), it must always be done with the administration of appropriate pain relief. 

Quality clip preparation:
To support buyer and processor confidence in the wool they purchase, every SustainaWOOL or ResponsiWOOL wool bale must be prepared by a professional Wool Classer, verified as being prepared to the Australian Wool Classing Code of Practice to ensure consistent, quality wool preparation.

Flystrike is a serious condition that can cause remarkable pain and distress and can be fatal to sheep. Sheep genetics, climate conditions including sheep blowfly (Lucilia Cuprina) outbreaks after periods of rain and heat, and farming practices such as frequency of monitoring, crutching and administration of chemical protections, are all important factors to consider regarding the utility of breech modification on a given property. 

By allowing mulesing with appropriate pain relief, ResponsiWOOL recognises breech modification as a tool that can help protect sheep as part of a property’s sheep health and wellbeing plan. This is an inclusive approach to enable more Australian wool producers to participate in sustainability certification.