#Natural Fibers

2026-05-28

The Good Cashmere Standard expands Animal Welfare Assessment on audited farms

With the Animal-related Animal Welfare Assessment (ARAWA), the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) conducts a pioneering project for the second consecutive year in 2025, parallel to the independent verifications of The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS). ARAWA assessments provide a comprehensive overview of the health status of a herd on an audited farm, going beyond standard verification procedures. They are inherently complex, which still makes them a rarity in the standard sector, but offer support in identifying non-conformities and provide a holistic overview of the herd's well-being. Therefore, the Aid by Trade Foundation will continue this crucial project and even further expand it by 2027.

While criteria such as the availability of feed, good health, and suitable habitats for goats remain fundamental to the standard, The Good Cashmere Standard places great importance on animals also having positive subjective experiences. ARAWA assessments investigate whether the resources provided actually lead to improved animal welfare outcomes. The indicators used by GCS are directly linked to the Five Domains of animal welfare. The number of audited farms was expanded in 2025. The increase was 39 percent compared to the previous year: Since the start of the pilot project in 2024, the scope has been extended from 72 farms in 2024 to 100 assessed farms, from 3 to 9 regions in Inner Mongolia, and from 2,024 to 2,298 cashmere goats. There are also plans to gradually increase the number of farms surveyed by 2027.

"By deciding to fundamentally integrate ARAWA into our processes, GCS goes beyond the usual standard criteria for assessing animal welfare," says Marvin Heuduck, Head of The Good Cashmere Standard at the Aid by Trade Foundation, adding: "We are pleased that the current results confirm the good work on the GCS verified farms. From these results, we can gain new valuable information with which we will further develop animal welfare aspects according to regional and seasonal particularities and in close cooperation with herders and cashmere producers."

Eight specific parameters currently provide insight into the living conditions of cashmere goats regarding nutrition, environment, health, and land management. The review is conducted independently. Based on the data obtained, the general health status of the animals was classified as "good." There are no signs of underlying health problems.

Aid by Trade Foundation reaches new milestones in supply chain transparency

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is reaching new milestones as it leads the way towards greater physical traceability for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) cotton. With around 700 suppliers and producers in a total of 25 countries, the Aid by Trade Foundation has reached a new record number of partners who can trace CmiA cotton from the product back to its origin. This is more than double the previous year’s figure.

Cashmere producers stress the importance of The Good Cashmere Standard®

At the invitation of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), over 70 experts from the cashmere production and supply chain, as well as other specialists, met at the GCS Unit Meeting in Shanghai, China to discuss the progress and new objectives of The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS). The meeting focused on implementation and verification of the standard, important aspects of animal welfare and the importance of the standard in the global textile market.

Aid by Trade Foundation publishes 2024 annual report: Growing impact for environment and people

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is on a growth track. Despite a challenging global economy, AbTF increased its income by six percent from 2023 to 2024, reaching a total of EUR 8.6 million. This revenue has been invested in comprehensive measures for the sustainable production of cotton and cashmere as well as for expanded measures to ensure transparency in global value chains. In addition to gaining new partners in 2024—including big names like Mango, Nordstrom, and CWS Workwear—AbTF was able to expand its global stakeholder network active in the production of raw materials or textiles.

The Woolmark Company showcases Australia's commitment to India's textile industry at Bharat Tex 2026

Reinforcing more than five decades of commitment to India's wool textile and apparel industry, The Woolmark Company, alongside Austrade and the Australian High Commission, marked a strong presence at Bharat Tex 2026, one of the world's largest textile and apparel trade platforms. Through industry engagement, strategic collaborations, technical innovation and knowledge exchange, the participation underscored Australia's continued commitment to supporting the growth and transformation of India's textile ecosystem while highlighting the versatility and value of Australian Merino wool.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.