The high cost of Chinese cashmere: destruction of grasslands, dust pollution, starving animals

[lindisfarne]

and CostCo (and other retailers) are contributing (as are you, if you purchase cashmere). I'm especially troubled by CostCo's role - I like their employee policies but not this.

By Evan Osnos
Chicago Tribune

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003498352&zsection_id=2002107549&slug=cashmere282&date=20061228

On the other side of the world, another morning dawned in the historic embrace between the world's low-cost factory and its best customer. Every minute of every day last year, America gobbled up $463,200 worth of Chinese goods, including millions of cashmere sweaters made from the hair of goats like Shatar's.

... The country's enormous herds of cashmere-producing goats have slashed the price of sweaters. But they also have helped graze Chinese grasslands down to a moonscape, unleashing some of the worst dust storms on record. This fuels a plume of pollution heavy enough to reach the skies over North America, including Washington state.
That low-priced cashmere sweater has a hidden cost

... It's impossible to say how much any single product contributes to China's air pollution. But the spike in demand for cashmere is taking a toll on the soil, air and water in China as well as the U.S. — a cost that never appears on any store's tag. And many consumers are unaware of the link.

...Shatar called his goats once more, and the animals trudged into view. Their wispy coats fluttered in the wind. They limped up a hill and slumped to the ground around him. They were starving.
...
This stretch of China's mythic grasslands, one of the world's largest prairies, is running out of grass. The land is so barren that Shatar and other herders buy cut grass and corn by the truckload to keep their animals alive. Goats are so weak that some herders carry the stragglers home by motorcycle. Shatar expects most of his goats will live 10 years, half the life span of their parents.

more at link

[maxsolomon]

1. just great

glad i passed up cashmere this yule.

but mrs. solomon has a jcrew cardigan in her closet from last year...

[Taverner]

2. i guess i wont get those casmere slacks...

[aquart]

3. CostCo is forcing China to graze goats?

[lindisfarne]

6. CostCo is buying products which are produced in a way which is bad for environment and animals.

I prefer to avoid purchasing from companies which do that. I'm troubled by CostCo in particular, because in other ways (such as employee treatment, pay, and benefits), they are a very responsible company. I will be writing CostCo and expressing my disappointment.

Are you so naive that I need to explain that if there's no market for the product, the land won't be overgrazed, which won't destroy the environment, won't lead to increased dust pollution, and won't lead to starving animals.

Or was your question disingenuous???

[LizW]

4. How can you tell where stuff comes from?

I buy yarn that has a small percentage of cashmere in it. It says "Made in Italy", but I assume that means it is spun there. How can you tell where the raw wool comes from and the conditions under which the sheep and goats are kept?

[lindisfarne]

7. You probably can't. You could try writing the company, but I doubt they'll give you a straight

answer.

[sweetheart]

5. let them wear nylon nt