What: the UK department store supports the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA)

Why is it important: all key raw materials in own-brand products will come from sustainable sources by 2025

The UK department store retailer is to fund a three-year programme run by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) to support the expansion of the body’s new Cashmere Standard from Mongolia to the Inner Mongolia region of China.

The retailer said its involvement will be part of a commitment “to ensuring all key raw materials in our own-brand products will be from sustainable or recycled sources by 2025”.

For its part of the support, John Lewis is funding the training of 420 herders in Inner Mongolia, on the global standard. Training will be provided by a leading animal welfare NGO, the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW), together with experts from a local agricultural university.

Protecting cashmere’s future John Lewis to fund Inner Mongolia wool programme