The first widely accessible cashmere LCA study delivers robust, harmonized datasets from the world’s top two cashmere production countries, with data collected directly from 170 herders and farmers for both farmed and nomadic grazing systems.

Like the other LCA studies released by Textile Exchange, the cashmere LCA study takes an LCA+ approach, including additional impact areas relevant to a specific material or fiber. For the cashmere LCA study, soil health was investigated and a separate social assessment examined community, livelihood, and human rights impacts.

The study’s publication marks a significant step in closing longstanding data gaps for cashmere in the industry, with previous benchmarking and modeling often depending on proxy data from other animal fibers.

By identifying major impact hotspots, the study also helps organizations prioritize investment and interventions where they are likely to have the greatest impact.

Beth Jensen, Chief Impact Officer at Textile Exchange, said: “The fashion, apparel, and textile industry’s need for high-quality data has never been greater. We believe the release of this study is a pivotal moment in helping to enable a clearer understanding of the impacts and opportunities related to cashmere production, supporting informed decision-making and targeted, coordinated action among brands, suppliers, and producers.”

Anna Heaton, Lead, Animal Materials at Textile Exchange, said: “Previous analysis of the impacts of cashmere production often relied on proxy data from other animal fibers. These proxies failed to capture key differences in cashmere production, such as variations in fiber-to-meat and milk ratios, which significantly influence environmental impact.

This LCA study changes that, providing up to date harmonized datasets specific to cashmere for the first time. Through industry databases, the data will be made widely available and accessible to help establish a much clearer picture of the impacts of cashmere production.”

Read the summary of the Textile Exchange cashmere LCA study

Summary of the Textile Exchange cashmere LCA study