NATIVA™, a global pioneer in fully traceable, sustainable Merino wool, announced the US 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 US, is designed to improve soil and water quality and protect biodiversity while helping brands reduce their carbon footprint and reach their sustainability targets.
NATIVA parent company Chargeurs is the operator of Chargeurs Wool USA, the only wool-processing facility in the U.S. With the launch of the NATIVA Regen program in the US, Chargeurs can 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.
Brands that create garments with wool produced under the NATIVA Regen program will be committing to supporting regenerative farming practices and farmers and communities. Brands and farmers participating in the program can 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 US 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 in the US.
