NATIVA™ launches the first regenerative wool program in the U.S., in partnership with Shaniko Wool Company

NATIVA™, a global pioneer in traceable, sustainable Merino wool, recently announced the U.S. launch of the NATIVA Regenerative Agriculture Program (NATIVA Regen), in partnership with Shaniko Wool Company. NATIVA Regen, the first regenerative wool program to be launched in the U.S., is designed to improve soil and water quality and protect biodiversity while helping brands reduce their carbon footprint and reach their sustainability targets.

Brands that create garments with wool produced under the NATIVA Regen program will be committing to supporting regenerative farming practices as well as farmers and communities. Brands and farmers participating in the program will be able to claim a double NATIVA/Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification that guarantees sustainable practices from farm to finished garment. Backed by blockchain technology, the certification proves brands’ commitment to transparency.

Shaniko Wool Company is an Oregon-based farm group overseeing nine farms across four states and was the first U.S. wool producer to receive the Textile Exchange’s RWS certification. As a participant in the groundbreaking NATIVA Regen program, the company has received the first dual NATIVA-RWS sustainability certification issued in the U.S.

NATIVA parent company Chargeurs is the operator of Chargeurs Wool USA. With the launch of the NATIVA Regen program in the U.S., Chargeurs is able to manage both the sourcing and initial processing of traceable, certified NATIVA wool in the country and ensure brands can take advantage of the low-carbon benefits associated with local production in the USA.

Through NATIVA Regen, NATIVA collaborates closely with farmers worldwide, including in Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, and, now, the U.S., as well as with leading research institutes, universities and environmental sustainability pioneers such as Quantis.

Organic & Non-GMO Insights October 2022