How the Responsible Hemp Standard Helps You Stay Ahead of ESG Regulations
With new supply chain regulations taking shape across the EU, apparel brands are under pressure to verify where their materials come from and how they’re made. For those working with natural fibers like hemp, the question is: how do you turn an often opaque, underdeveloped supply chain into a transparent, trustworthy one?
That’s exactly what the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) was designed to do.
RHS is the first global certification focused solely on industrial hemp. It was built to meet the real-world needs of supply chain transparency, traceability, and ESG reporting, without requiring every farm to go fully organic.
Here’s how it works:
Verified Chain of Custody
RHS tracks hemp from farm to finished product using batch-level documentation and third-party audits. You get traceability you can trust—and data to back up your claims.
Built for Global Sourcing
Whether you’re working with suppliers in Europe, North America, or Latin America, RHS offers a consistent framework across regions and use cases.
Aligned with Your ESG Goals
RHS goes beyond farming. It verifies labor practices, land use, chemical inputs, and processing methods, providing brands with a holistic view of sustainability.
Built-In Compatibility
RHS supports brand reporting on:
EU due diligence (CSDDD)
Digital Product Passports (ESPR)
Textile Exchange’s Climate+ strategy
LCAs and brand ESG frameworks
Scalable, Flexible, Realistic
RHS doesn’t require a full organic transition. Instead, it offers a practical, auditable way to raise standards, while still allowing for incremental progress and adoption.
Why It Matters Now
These systems aren’t just for sustainability teams—they’re for risk management, brand protection, and compliance. As fashion regulations evolve, certification will become the foundation for sourcing decisions, rather than an afterthought.
And as RHS expands to cover flax, jute, and other bast fibers, brands will be able to use a single program to meet their traceability needs across multiple natural fibers.
The Bottom Line
Traceability is no longer optional—it’s required. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
RHS helps sourcing and sustainability teams get ahead of regulatory changes, avoid greenwashing risks, and build resilient, transparent supply chains for hemp and other natural fibers.