John Lewis to fund sustainable cashmere programme in Mongolia
John Lewis supports the expansion of the SFA’s new cashmere standard from Mongolia to the Inner Mongolia region in China
The John Lewis partnership announced plans to fund a three-year Sustainable Fiber Alliance (SFA) program to support the expansion of the SFA’s new Kashmiri standard from Mongolia to the Inner Mongolia region of China.
Climate change and increased global demand for cashmere are putting pressure on the fragile ecosystems on which the cashmere industry relies. In response, the SFA has developed a global standard to promote best practices in land management, animal welfare, fiber processing and supply chain transparency. Ensure the long-term viability of the cashmere sector.
John Lewis is funding the training of 420 shepherds in Inner Mongolia to global standards. The training is provided by a leading animal welfare NGO, the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW), together with experts from a local agricultural university.
Once the shepherds have completed their training, they will conduct self-assessments against the requirements of the standard and undergo independent operational inspections before receiving SFA accreditation.
The first year the program will focus on animal welfare and then expand to cover biodiversity protection and long-term livelihoods for shepherds.
Marija Rompani, Partner and Director of Ethics and Sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “It is very important for us and our customers that all raw materials in our products are sourced in a way that they are useful for the animals involved, the land and the People are good at their production. We are committed to ensuring that all of the key raw materials in our private label products are sourced from sustainable or recycled sources by 2025.
“We are very proud to be a pioneer of the Sustainable Fiber Alliance (SFA) and to contribute to the development of their global standard for sustainable cashmere production. This work will protect the well-being of the goats, the land and the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on the production of cashmere fiber. “
Una Jones, CEO and Founder of SFA added, “We are delighted to have the support of a respected brand, John Lewis, and their suppliers. Together with our other pioneering partners, we are confident that we can take a pioneering role in the development of the cashmere industry in order to achieve consistently high standards and protect the livelihood of addicts. “
