Fabric
Cashmere
Ladakh Changthangi goats, Mongolia and China
Impact score
44/ 100
High Impact
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint8,500 L / kg
Carbon footprint38 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy88 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingLow shedding
BiodegradableYes
Durability15 years typical wear
Recyclability50 / 100
Data confidence
lowLow confidence — limited published data, treat as indicative
Sources: Sustainable Fibre Alliance 2022 · Higg MSI 2023
Figures are cradle-to-gate averages per kilogram of fibre or fabric, not measurements of your specific garment. A typical adult shirt weighs roughly 0.2 kg.
Qualitative ratings
Water useModerate
Carbon footprintHigh
Chemical loadModerate
DurabilityHigh
RecyclabilityModerate
What is it
Ultra-fine down combed from cashmere goats.
Why it matters
Overgrazing by goat herds has degraded grasslands, and yield per animal is tiny.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Buy Ladakhi Pashmina from cooperatives, or recycled cashmere; keep it for decades.