The new voluntary standard launched by global industry non-profit Textile Exchange (TE) ensures responsible sourcing of alpaca wool from farmers with high animal welfare standards. As per Eco Textile, known as the Responsible Aplaca Standard, it addresses farm-level animal welfare as well as land management and social welfare practices. It also ensures proper identification and tracking of the fiber from certified farms.

The standard provides the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that alpaca fiber comes from farms that have a progressive approach to managing their land, practice holistic respect for animal welfare, and respect the 'five freedoms' of animal welfare.

The RAS requires all sites to be certified, beginning with the alpaca farmers and through to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction. Individual sites are certified by independent third-party certification bodies while alpaca wool is tracked from farm to final product using transaction certificates. The new standard will also join the Responsible Animal Fiber (RAF) framework, along with the Responsible Wool and Mohair Standards.