A certification programme for carpet maintenance products was established in 1991 under the name CAMPES - the Carpet Maintenance Products Evaluation Scheme - by the International Wool Secretariat (IWS), now called the Woolmark Company, in close collaboration with Cleaning Research International (CRi). Extensive laboratory trials were carried out to standardize a comprehensive range of test methods, and to document the performance criteria for accepting - or rejecting - carpet maintenance products as being suitable for cleaning and protecting wool carpets. The criteria and test methods chosen were based largely on internationally used standards and tests.

In 1997 Wools of New Zealand, who had taken over the programme from IWS in 1995, changed the name from the acronym CAMPES to WOOLSAFE, which much better reflected the purpose of the scheme

The logo was also updated at the same time to make it more legible when reproduced in small size, and thus more effective.

The WOOLSAFE Organisation

The WOOLSAFE Organisation was established in 1998 to administer all aspects of the programme and its promotion worldwide.

The WOOLSAFE Organisation significantly expanded its world-wide technical and promotional services in 2002 by opening branches in Australia and North America.

The WOOLSAFE programme is supported in North America by Wools of New Zealand and in Europe by the British Wool Marketing Board.

In October 1998 The WOOLSAFE Organisation launched an accreditation scheme for professional carpet cleaners, called the WOOLSAFE Certified Operators programme, in response to demands from within the cleaning and carpet manufacturing industries.

The WOOLSAFE Certified Operator programme is fully operational in Great Britain and Ireland and will be launched in North America and Australia in 2003.