The SFA Cashmere Standard System Certification Scheme for Producers, Producer Organisations and Processors in the cashmere fibre sector is owned by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA).
Established in 2015 and recognised by the international retail community through its Membership scheme, the SFA collaborates with policy makers, international stakeholders, agricultural and animal welfare specialists as well as directly with cashmere producers and processors. The SFA is a trusted catalyst for developing sustainable cashmere manufacturing from fibre producers and suppliers to retail garments.
We promote the Sustainable Cashmere Standard to encourage Sustainable practices that benefit people, livestock, and the environment. Our scheme allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to transforming the capacity of the cashmere sector to make credible claims about their cashmere products’ sustainability and provenance.
The market need for the Sustainable Cashmere Standard is driven by the requirements of the textile industry, fashion manufacturers and brands for responsible production of cashmere products. This includes evidence of improved environmental efforts to reverse land degradation, responsible animal husbandry and ethical fibre production. Other drivers are international legislation prohibiting the use of hazardous chemicals that have previously proliferated fibre processing and production operations. SFA members are also adopting key features of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compliance with the Sustainable Cashmere Standard by participants indicates to the supply chain that there is a concerted effort to support these SDGs.
Over the last 5 years approximately of 80% of the cashmere supply chain joined SFA as a member to tackle environmental, social and livelihood challenges together and supported the development and implementation of the Sustainable Cashmere Standard.
At the centre of the CAS are SFA Codes of Practice. Each one encourages improvement in how the user responds to environmental and animal welfare concerns close to the retail buying public’s heart.
The CAS encourages retailers to invest in best practice within their supply chains, by demonstrating a commitment to integrate good animal welfare and sustainable environmental practice.
Initially launched in Outer and Inner Mongolia, the scheme aims to cover cashmere supply chain producers worldwide.
This Conformity Assessment Scheme was developed following the requirements of conformity assessment standard ISO/IEC:17067: 2013 Conformity assessment — Fundamentals of product certification and guidelines for product certification schemes – section 5.3.3 1b, after researching the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011, ISO/IEC 17067 and ISO/IEC 17065 and determined the assurance mechanism suited the requirements of a certification scheme where the processes involved in cashmere production are validated by audit. The requirements for CABs are based upon the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065 Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.