Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A total of 18 national textile industries have joined to a Voluntary Code of Practice (VCP) for Mongolian sustainable textile production, agreeing for an environmentally-friendly, socially sound, and economically viable production.

The Voluntary Code of Practice aims to enhance and ensure a strong sustainability profile of the Mongolian wool and cashmere industry, allowing for better recognition in the global wool and cashmere market and increased sales due to a sustainability performance that stands out against ordinary textiles. Thus, it has importance to enhance their access to European and other global markets which are increasingly demanding sustainable textile goods.

Voluntary Code of Practice for Mongolian sustainable textile production is the first step of the Mongolian wool and cashmere industry towards the achievement of an internationally acknowledged sustainability standard allowing credible communication of their sustainability performance. It acts as a national benchmark of sustainable production for the Mongolian wool and cashmere processing enterprises.

VCP is composed of a set of criteria that the companies need to meet in order to apply for and to become qualified for higher-level recognition and internationally accredited certifications. Compliance with the VCP’s criteria will enable the Mongolian wool and cashmere industry to demonstrate their engagement towards the demands for sustainable production and reports to the customers about their positive changes of environmental and social profile. 

Through Voluntary Code of Practice for Mongolian sustainable textile production the signatory parties will contribute to reducing the environmental and social impact of wool and cashmere production and increase competitiveness of the sector in comparison with not sustainably produced wool and cashmere products. This initial collaboration will allow the goals to be reached rapidly, cost-effectively and at greater scale than by working alone.

The Voluntary Code of Practice for Mongolian sustainable textile production was elaborated within Sustainable textile production and Eco labelling project, implemented by the AVSF Mongolia with financial support from the European Union, and is as a result of an extensive collaboration of key sectoral stakeholders, including the Mongolian wool and cashmere Association and German Center for sustainable consumption and production.