Shear Bliss Rug

RWS is an internationally recognised voluntary standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on. A product that states the RWS logo means all sites beginning with the wool farmers, factories and Koala are certified.

The certification ensures mulesing is strictly prohibited, best practices in the management and protection of the land, and sheep are treated with respect to the Five Freedoms. More information can be found RWS wool ZQ is an on-farm certification programme established by NZM in 2007 and was the first of its kind in the world to require growers to meet strict standards with regard to animal welfare, environmental integrity, social responsibility, colour quality, and traceability.

These 2 standards are aligned to maximize the positive impact of both programmes on the environment, farming communities, and livestock.

During our development process, we conducted an in-depth research into responsible wool. There are countries around that world that still practice mulesing. One of the main reasons why Koala have chosen to use NZ wool is that NZ officially banned the practice of mulesing in October 2018.

For more information, NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Wool is harvested through a process called shearing. (It's like getting a 'number 4' haircut.)

Shearers are highly skilled people and pride themselves on careful handling of the sheep. They leave a good covering of wool on the sheep, to keep them warm. Machine shears are the most popular tool for shearing, as they are fast and efficient, for minimal stress on the animal.

Sheep have been bred for thousands of years to grow wool, therefore shearing is not just about harvesting wool — it's also about keeping the animals comfortable, relieving them from having to endure the hot summer months with a heavy fleece.

As part of being certified, the farms are third party audited including random audits conducted during the shearing season.