traceability

blockchain technology would help highlighting producers who are following sustainable practices.

The cashmere herders in Mongolia already face several problems regarding the production, including income instability and uncertainty, and are often indebted to intermediaries for cash advances. The need for more sustainability and traceability in the sector is also required because of the decreasing quality of cashmere due to climate change, rise in unethical sustainable sourcing, and demands for proof of sustainability. The farmers of the region have welcomed the decision to use technology to better trace their products

Traceability and corporate social responsibility are also at the core of Cashmere Flakes’ business model. The brand sources its cashmere fibers directly from the Nomad Herders Cooperative, the members of which comply with the code of conduct developed by the Swiss International Cooperation, and every fiber used is currently tracked by block chain

The complexity of the cashmere supply chain has made it difficult for brands to deter­mine whether the cashmere they buy is coming from herd­ers who adhere to environ­mental and animal-welfare standards. Once hair is removed from the goats, it passes through many middlemen. From Mon­golia, it is usually shipped across the border to processing facilities in China, where the fi­bers are often mixed with those from goats raised in China, the world’s largest pro­ducer of cashmere. Then the fabric is either made into gar­ments in China or shipped to Europe, where high-end brands such as Gucci and others use it

Kering says it’s also pressuring its networks of suppliers and sub-suppliers to open up about where exactly their raw materials come from, and imposing higher standards on ener

The spokesperson said: 'Challenges connected to the environment, animal welfare and traceability are all reasons why we've decided to phase out conventional cashmere.'

Demands for proof of sustainability claims

This was a consensual process from both sides, with herders stepping up and willing to have their goods marked in return for training on better practices and the hope of opening markets to paying price premiums for truly sustainable and high-quality cashmere.

Convergence says that the project is an enormous success with significant quantities of cashmere getting tracked across three provinces in north-eastern Mongolia, from origin, shearing at herder households, to destination, a processing facility in Ulaanbaatar.

There’s a lack of agreement on sustainability and chain of custody processes

The company selected cashmere herders for its pilot, as herders face income instability and are oftenindebted to intermediaries for cash advances. There is also a lack of agreement on sustainability and chain of custody processes, and grazing lands are threatening the viability of the industry.

an integrated, transparent and traceable supply chain.

traceability The lack of traceability presents a major governability challenge for cashmere commodity chains. As fibres are aggregated before they reach processors, it is difficult to incentivize (or increase accountability) for quality and sustainability at the supplier level. Based on this problem attribution, successful traceability measures should support more sustainable cashmere production.