Hamburg Hosts The Good Cashmere Conference 2025: Experts Discuss Sustainable Cashmere and its Future in the Textile Industry
On March 25th and 26th, The Good Cashmere Conference 2025 was held in Hamburg, Germany. The event brought together experts from the global textile industry, including representatives from international organizations such as Four Paws and Textile Exchange, and scientists to discuss the future of sustainable cashmere.
The conference focused on innovative technologies and effective measures to ensure animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, and transparency in the textile industry. The event was attended by more than 50 international fashion brands and retailers, including H&M, Boden, and The White Company, who utilize The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS) in their production.
The GCS, which has been advocating for sustainable cashmere since 2019, is now the largest standard with ongoing success in trade and production. The number of GCS-labelled textiles has increased by 30% from 2023 to 2024, showcasing the growing adoption of sustainable cashmere in the industry.
One of the key discussions at the conference was how to promote the welfare of cashmere goats. International animal welfare experts emphasized the importance of animal welfare concepts for species-appropriate goat husbandry. They recognized The Good Cashmere Standard for its pioneering role and effective implementation on farms. The standard translates scientific findings into agricultural practice and employs training, digital solutions, and model farms for responsible cashmere production.
Preserving biodiversity was also a central topic at the conference. The participants discussed how to protect the biological balance, which acts as the livelihood for the 5,500 GCS farms and two million cashmere goats, from climate change-induced weather extremes. Scientists, NGOs, and brands like Marc O’Polo, along with producers from China, concluded that protecting the grasslands in Inner Mongolia is essential for the future of cashmere production. Collaborations along the textile supply chain, as well as modern grazing techniques and knowledge management for herders, are crucial for this.
In terms of the future of sustainable GCS cashmere, virtual reality goggles and blockchain technology for tracking GCS cashmere in the supply chain were presented as forward-looking solutions. Alex Barnett, Ethics & Sustainability Manager at The White Company, commented on the conference, saying, “It was great to connect with experts in the field of responsible cashmere production at this year’s conference. From goat to garment, the conference combined animal welfare and environmental stewardship, transparency, and innovation, providing valuable insights into the future of cashmere production. As the first UK GCS brand partner, The White Company remains committed to responsible cashmere production, supporting the livelihoods of herders.”
For more information and pictures from the conference, please visit the link provided. For press inquiries, please contact Christina Ben Bella at Christina.Benbella@abt-foundation.org.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.