Embedded Files
Material
Material
Environmental
Social
Governance
Alpaca
Low impact compared to cashmere; grazing can be sustainable but overgrazing leads to land degradation.
Small-scale herding supports indigenous communities, but worker conditions vary.
Lack of strict regulations; some certifications exist (e.g., Responsible Alpaca Standard).
Angora
High environmental impact due to intensive farming and waste production.
Concerns over inhumane plucking methods and poor living conditions for rabbits.
Weak enforcement of animal welfare laws; banned in some countries due to ethical concerns.
Cashmere
Goat overgrazing leads to desertification and biodiversity loss.
Often linked to poor labor conditions and low wages in Mongolia and China.
Efforts for sustainable certification (e.g., The Good Cashmere Standard) exist but remain voluntary.
Cowhide
High carbon footprint; deforestation for cattle farming is a major concern.
Linked to poor labor conditions in tanneries, especially in developing countries.
LWG certification exists, but transparency and enforcement vary.
Down
Plucking methods can be cruel; responsible sourcing mitigates impact.
Concerns over animal welfare; some suppliers adhere to ethical down standards.
RDS (Responsible Down Standard) helps regulate sourcing practices.
Fur
Severe environmental impact due to farming emissions and chemical treatments.
Strong ethical concerns over animal welfare; fur farming is banned in several countries.
Regulations exist but vary widely; bans in fashion houses are increasing.
Leather
Tanning uses toxic chemicals; alternatives like vegetable tanning are more sustainable.
Worker exposure to hazardous chemicals in tanneries is a major health issue.
LWG certification improves transparency, but many regions lack enforcement.
Mohair
Grazing can be sustainable, but overgrazing leads to land degradation.
Concerns over mistreatment of angora goats in some farms.
Some ethical mohair standards exist but enforcement is inconsistent.
Ostrich Leather
Lower environmental impact compared to cowhide; sourced from meat industry waste.
Better labor conditions in farms compared to fur industries.
Weak regulatory oversight; no universal ethical certification.
Pearls
Sustainable when farmed responsibly; can benefit marine ecosystems.
Historically linked to exploitative labor, but modern pearl farms have improved conditions.
Certifications like Fair Trade Pearls and CIBJO exist, but transparency remains a challenge.
Sheepskin
High water and land use for sheep farming.
Concerns over treatment of sheep and labor conditions in processing.
Some oversight via LWG and ethical wool certifications, but inconsistencies exist.
Silk
Mulberry tree farming requires land and pesticides; wild silk is more eco-friendly.
Concerns over boiling silkworms alive in traditional silk production.
Some certifications like GOTS and Peace Silk offer ethical alternatives.
Suede
Environmental impact similar to leather; requires intensive processing.
Tanning chemicals pose risks to workers.
LWG and other leather certifications provide some governance, but oversight varies.
Vicuña
Highly sustainable due to strict conservation efforts and low impact grazing.
Indigenous communities in Peru benefit, but illegal poaching remains a concern.
Strict governance under CITES; legally sold vicuña fiber is highly regulated.
Wool
Can be sustainable if managed well, but conventional wool production involves high water and land use.
Concerns over sheep welfare, including mulesing practices.
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and other ethical certifications improve governance.
Calfskin
High water usage, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions from cattle farming
Health risks for tannery workers, labor exploitation in some regions
Weak traceability, limited enforcement of ethical sourcing
Shearling
Tanning processes contribute to pollution, methane emissions from sheep
Animal welfare concerns, labor rights in wool processing
Supply chain transparency is often weak
Yak Wool
Low environmental footprint compared to cashmere, naturally insulating
Supports nomadic herders but often underpaid
Limited industry regulations on sustainability
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse