Is Cashmere Sustainable?

As consumers, we are becoming more aware of the products we are buying and the journey they have made to reach us. It’s our responsibility as consumers, and as a business, to be conscious of our impact on the environment.

The fashion industry has come under fire as the importance of sustainability has become more well known, and the increase in fast fashion and its negative impact on the environment has skyrocketed.

Sustainable fashion and ethical practices have played an integral part in the development of our brand, and a question that is commonly wondered, is whether cashmere is sustainable and eco friendly...

Is Cashmere Sustainable?

Cashmere fibres are derived from the hair of cashmere goats. Once the cashmere coat is ethically removed, it grows back and the whole process can be repeated. 

As with anything, an increase in demand and a struggle to meet increased demand can both affect the sustainability of any practice. As cashmere became more in demand, the cashmere industry started to become less sustainable. However, it’s for this very reason that The Good Cashmere Standard was created. This standard transformed the cashmere industry by promoting and supporting more sustainable practices in the cashmere industry, built around three principles:

1. Promoting animal welfare in cashmere production
2. Supporting cashmere farmers to secure a sustainable source of income
3. Protecting the environment. 

With years of experience in the cashmere industry under our belt, ensuring Loop Cashmere was certified by this standard was an absolute must, and is at the core of our brand's processes.

Our advice to you as the consumer, is to do your research on the cashmere you are buying, where it is coming from, and the presence and type of sustainability considerations made by cashmere brands. It’s not just the production of cashmere that impacts whether cashmere is environmentally friendly, but all of the practices carried out by the brand selling the cashmere - from packaging to delivery!

Is Loop Cashmere Sustainable?

In addition to our cashmere being certified by a standard that promotes sustainable cashmere practices, we have made conscious decisions to choose partners and process that are gentle on the environment. We found a fantastic Mongolian factory that has a sustainable water treatment plant on-site that allows them to reuse the water using during the production process. To offset their carbon emissions, they also plant trees and grow their own vegetables to eat at lunch.

We are also proud of the eco-friendly packaging we have created, which still feel and look luxurious but 95% of the packaging is either recyclable or compostable. (And it’s our mission to get this to 100%!) 

Following the awareness of the terrifying impact that fast fashion is having on our environment, the concept of ‘slow’ fashion has become much more well known. We design and create garments that are built to last for years to come in your wardrobe, to help you curate a clothing collection that remains in style and quality for a long time to come. Investing in slow fashion items as opposed to more ‘fast fashion items’ has a much more reduced impact on the environment. Small changes can make a big difference, and investing in higher quality items can help you make a difference.

The sustainable considerations don’t stop there, though. We send our orders via DPD due to their strong environmental and DrivingChange™ policy, using low emission vehicles to significantly decrease the co2 emissions associated with each parcel, in comparison to many other delivery options. 

We know it’s our responsibility as a business to ensure we have as small an impact on the environment as possible, and we believe it’s our responsibility to make these considerations so you, the buyer, don’t have to worry about how sustainable and ethical the products you are buying are. Cashmere with a conscience!