Certifying Sustainable Cashmere to Save Mongolia's Steppe

Founded in 2015, the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) is a UK-registered charity that built the cashmere sector's first sustainability standard, covering animal welfare, herder livelihoods and rangeland stewardship. Because rising international demand for cashmere pushed herders to keep ever-larger goat herds, degrading Mongolia's steppe, SFA-certified herding communities each develop a rangeland management plan to restore pasture condition and protect native wildlife. By year-end 2023, 193 registered herder organizations covering roughly 16,300 households in Mongolia, plus over 13,500 farms in China, were part of the SFA system, with certified raw cashmere traceable from herder to brand. Members include major fashion retailers who commit to sourcing SFA-certified fibre, giving herders a market incentive to keep rangelands within their carrying capacity.