Responsible Hemp Standard

Defining transparency and traceability in industrial hemp.

From field to finished product — across all industrial hemp markets — RHS certifies responsible practices and verifies every claim.

Hemp Certification Process: Your Path to Verified Sustainable Sourcing

Unlike other certifications that focus only on finished products, the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) is the first global chain-of-custody program for industrial hemp that certifies the entire supply chain from field to finished product, addressing all of the crop’s diverse uses.

Why Certification Matters

  • For Brands & Manufacturers: Verified sourcing, ESG alignment, risk mitigation, market access.

  • For Farmers & Processors: Access to premium markets, operational guidance, and sustainability benchmarking.

  • For Retailers: Label claim assurance, consumer trust, brand differentiation.

  • For Consumers: Transparency, informed choices, values-based purchasing.

In today's market, sustainability claims without verification damage brand credibility. RHS certification provides the independent third-party validation that sourcing executives, investors, and conscious consumers demand.

The Business Impact of RHS Certification:

  • Risk Mitigation: Verify every supplier claim with chain-of-custody documentation

  • Market Access: Meet retailer sustainability requirements and ESG reporting standards

  • Premium Positioning: Differentiate your products in competitive markets

  • Consumer Trust: Make credible sustainability claims with independent verification

What RHS Certifies:

  • Farming Practices

    Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) compliance

  • Processing Standards

    Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) verification

  • Environmental Impact:

    Sustainable production methods and waste management

  • Social Compliance

    Ethical labor standards throughout the supply chain

  • Supply Chain

    Complete chain-of-custody documentation

Nine Reasons to Choose RHS

  • RHS certification connects the hemp supply chain to INCCert and Control Union’s global network, opening doors to major CPGs and high-value buyers worldwide.

  • From field to finished product, RHS verifies every step — empowering brands to make credible claims and giving consumers the confidence to trust them.

  • RHS creates clear differentiation in the global market, elevating hemp raw materials to a premium tier.

  • Early adopters of RHS stand out as leaders in sustainability and social responsibility, capturing conscious consumers and outpacing competitors.

  • Certification signals leadership to investors, rating agencies, and industry analysts, strengthening relationships and opening strategic opportunities.

  • Certification enables consumers to make informed, values-driven choices, building loyalty and brand preference.

  • From field to finished product, RHS ensures every link meets Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), guaranteeing quality and consistency.

  • Participants help shape the future of hemp, driving ESG progress and climate action across the supply chain.

  • Aligned with international sustainability standards, RHS adds weight to your claims and proves your commitment to responsible business.

  • RHS evolves with input from trusted stakeholders, keeping the program relevant, rigorous, and future-ready.

A grocery store aisle with shelves stocked with various breakfast cereals and snacks. A refrigerated section with dairy products is visible at the back, and signs indicating different sections such as 'Tea', 'Breakfast', and 'Cereal' are hanging from the ceiling.

Standards Open Markets.

Across industries, leading businesses rely on standards and certifications to ensure compliance, transparency, and credible label claims.

RHS independently verifies the mass balance and origin of industrial hemp raw materials, confirming production meets Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and proven sustainable farming and ethical labor standards.

This assurance opens new markets and earns the trust manufacturers and retailers demand.

The RHS Certification Program Applies to All Uses of Industrial Hemp

  • Textiles & Fashion – yarn, fabric, apparel, home goods

  • Construction Materials – insulation, hemp and lime concrete, bio-composites

  • Food & Feed – hemp seed, protein powder, livestock feed

  • Cosmetics & Personal Care – skincare, haircare, wellness products

  • Industrial Applications – plastics, paper, packaging

A container of disinfecting wipes with a wipe partially pulled out.
A large flock of white chickens inside a greenhouse with grass and trees outside.
Four jackets hanging on wooden hangers on a clothing rack.
A construction worker wearing a yellow helmet and safety harness working on wooden framing at a building site under a blue sky.
Infographic of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, showing 17 colorful icons representing goals like no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, clean water, and climate action.

How RHS Supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) aligns with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting sustainability, ethical labor, and supply chain transparency across the industrial hemp sector.

Sustainability Practices

  • Affordable and clean energy

  • Climate action

  • Life below water

  • Life on land

  • Sustainable cities and communities

  • Responsible consumption and production

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

  • Good health and well-being

  • Clean water and sanitation

  • Responsible consumption and production

  • Decent work and economic growth

Ethical Labor Practices

  • No poverty

  • Zero hunger

  • Quality education

  • Gender equality

  • Peace, justice, and strong institutions

  • Reduced inequalities

Track & Trace Supply Chain Transparency

  • Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

  • Partnerships for the goals

  • Good health and well-being

Industrial hemp can meet CPGs’ ESG and carbon goals — but only with trusted standards. RHS certification delivers the validation brands rely on for responsible sourcing and risk mitigation.