CLAIM: ethical

indigenous livelihoods Indigenous livelihoods, rooted in nomadic pastoralism, are worth safeguarding due to their inherent value (as cultural diversity and sustainability) or on a rights basis. These livelihoods are under threat. This is distinct from #nationalism.

producer well being Well-being is an important dimension of economic activity.

nationalism As articulated by domestic producers (e.g., Mongolians in Mongolia) this is an appeal to the value of national survival and self-determination, with reference to a national heritage. The narrative can encompass elements such as wisdom of ancestors, a 'nomadic worldview', ancient history, traditions, and cultural identity.

herder empowerment Sustainable production can be achieved by 'empowering' herders.

philanthropy An ethical business contributes to philanthropic or charitable endeavours. Such activity may relate directly to sustainability if it involves the donation of unsold inventory, contribution to practices that enhance the sustainability of suppliers' livelihoods, etc. Similar to #social-business.

veganism Any animal-based products are inherently unacceptable. Natural cashmere therefore cannot be an appropriate clothing choice from a vegan standpoint. This claim may be associated, in sustainability discourse, with statements advocating plant-based fibres or with discussions of #animal-cruelty.

affordable cashmere Sustainable clothing should be affordable to everyone. Low cashmere prices are a good thing as they render cashmere garments accessible / affordable to a larger number of consumers, creating a potential for growth in the sector. (Sustainability issues may be addressed separately from volume.)

fair price Fair pricing should be offered to suppliers.

quality Cashmere garments themselves should be of high quality. The quality (thickness) of cashmere fibres should also be maintained. This may relate to #breeding, #grading, #animal-welfare, or #rangeland-quality.

technology evangelism Advanced technology can successfully bring engineered solutions to sustainability problems. Relevant technologies may pertain to the areas of computing, communications networking, and remote sensing. Sharing of technological solutions by companies in highly developed countries can ensure that no one is left behind in sustainable development. Successful adoption of engineered solutions requires strong efforts to market their value to a prospective user base.

small scale producers Supporting small-scale producers is inherently a good thing. From an economic perspective, small-scale producers are innovative and drive production. From a development perspective, they need to be supported.

organic farming Sustainable agricultural production is organic: it does not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides or antibiotics.

animal welfare A concern for the welfare of animals (goats), not necessarily expressed in negative terms (#animal-cruelty) but as a positive aspiration.

transformative values Ethics and sustainability are associated with the values and mission of ethical actors. Supporting sustainable cashmere involves buying from companies who prioritize sustainability as an inherently important value. Sustainability and ethics are potentially manifested through an evolving approach based on core values, rather than through a fixed set of criteria. As such, truth claims may be evaluated with greater emphasis on intentionality than on objective measures (i.e., rules or specific evidence).

social economy Market transactions should primarily be valued in terms of social relations rather than their financial utility.

native authority The 'native' cashmere producer -- an individual designer or business from Mongolia -- is better positioned to speak authoritatively on the quality and sustainability of cashmere. This connects to the biography of individual designers like #Mandkhai.

non toxicity See #human-health.

local consumption Consumption of locally-produced commodities is most sustainable. Local consumption supports local production, which may be inherently desirable but also more open to scrutiny (e.g., for labour and ecological practices) and legal oversight. Local consumption involves less waste in transportation. It may be deemed more 'fair' in general since the commodity chain is not built on exploitative economic relations, but may also involve a #moral-economy.

self sufficiency Sustainable agricultural production is self-sufficient: it does not rely on external inputs and it operates independently of large agribusiness (e.g., contracts with GMO seed suppliers).

natural beauty Natural beauty encompasses mainly cosmetics, but can extend to clothing and fashion accessories as well. The goal is to look good but also sustainable.

frictionless ethical consumerism It should be possible to be 'sustainable' in one's consumer choices without having to think about them.

holism Standards or interventions need to be holistic and integrative.

textile comparison Consumers should make informed choices about textiles, which can be ranked by sustainability. Some or all sustainability measures may be relative to alternative commodities, rather than measured against absolute indicators. Substituting alternative textiles for cashmere may be desirable.

herder rights Recognizing and supporting herders' land tenure, customary rights, and political interests is important to ensure the viability of sustainable cashmere production.

corporate sustainability A general approach to reducing waste as a good business practice, which is both environmentally responsible and financially prudent.

women empowerment Empowerment of women is desirable. Involvement of women in the cashmere industry can empower them.

eco-friendly Production must be environmentally friendly.

natural design Design (of garments or other products) can reproduce the organic beauty of the natural grasslands, fostering mindfulness and respect.

financial stability Low-risk, stable production is desirable for domestic processors.

sustainably sourced Cashmere must be obtained from sustainable sources. By implication, sustainability criteria are established by the producer and suppliers must demonstrate compliance with those criteria, either through self-regulation or through a system of audits.

recycling Recycling is important in general.