SFA
Sustainable Fibre Alliance
Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) is a global non-profit supply chain organization established to ensure the long-term sustainability of the cashmere industry.
SUSTAINABLE KASHMIR
The SFA aims to minimize environmental impact, protect the livelihoods of herders and ensure high standards of animal welfare. The Cashmere Standard addresses effective management, biodiversity, land use, animal welfare and fiber quality in a holistic framework.
What is SFA?
Mission and Structure
Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the cashmere industry. SFA represents a global alliance of supply chain actors, from herders and cooperatives to processors, brands and retailers, and aims to create a common language of sustainability across the industry.
The organization has identified minimizing environmental impact, protecting the livelihoods of herders and ensuring high standards of animal welfare as key objectives. The SFA Kashmir Standard provides a holistic framework covering key principles such as effective management, good working practices, biodiversity, land use, animal welfare and fiber quality improvement.
SFA Certification Service Scope
USB Certification provides assessment and certification services throughout the cashmere supply chain under the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) mandate. For more information, visit sustainablefibre.org.
SFA Chain of Custody
- Supply chain traceability from raw fiber to yarn and fabric
- Certificate scope audit at processing facilities
- Validation of mass balance and segregation management systems
- Supporting the correct use of the SFA label and claims
SFA Cashmere Standard Key Components
Effective Management
It envisages the establishment of governance, planning and reporting systems that enable sustainable decision-making at the herding and cooperative level.
Good Working Practices
It includes requirements for good labor practices that protect the rights of herders and workers and are based on fair wages and safe working conditions.
Biodiversity
It aims to conserve plant and animal species in rangeland ecosystems, maintain natural habitats and enhance biodiversity.
Land Use
Defines evidence-based methods for grazing planning in accordance with pasture capacity, preventing soil erosion and combating land degradation.
Animal Welfare
Apply internationally recognized high animal welfare standards in the living conditions, nutrition, health monitoring and humane treatment of goats.
Fiber Quality
It provides technical criteria and measurement methods for improving the quality of cashmere fiber in combination with sustainable production practices.
SFA Memberships and Collaborations
International Cashmere Alliance (ICA)
The SFA was established in 2015 as an independent organization through the International Cashmere Alliance (ICA) initiative to secure the long-term sustainability of the cashmere industry.
Textile Exchange
SFA collaborates with Textile Exchange, the leading organization in the field of sustainable textile raw materials, to strengthen the compliance of sustainable cashmere with industry acceptance and traceability standards.
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
SFA works in conjunction with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), which develops international measurement tools for sustainable apparel, to ensure that the cashmere supply chain remains aligned with the global sustainability agenda.
Certify Sustainability in Cashmere with the SFA Standard
USB Certification provides internationally recognized auditing and certification services across the cashmere supply chain under the Sustainable Fibre Alliance mandate.
