Ralph Lauren has launched a  cashmere sweater that is certified Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Gold. It is being made available under the men’s Purple Label and women’s Collection brands and is the first of five C2C products planned by the company.

Knitted from fine cashmere fibres, dyed in rich hues and featuring a transformed signature label cut from organic cotton, the sweater went through the multi-step certification process with the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a non-profit that has set the global standard for products that are safe, circular and made responsibly.

“The kind of luxury we stand for at Ralph Lauren has always been about timelessness, authenticity and a life well-lived,” said Katie Ioanilli, the brand’s chief global impact and communications officer. “Today more than ever we believe true luxury encompasses not only a product’s beauty and quality, but how it was made and how it will endure. That’s why we’ve created the industry’s first C2C-certified luxury cashmere product.”

As part of the C2C certification process, Ralph Lauren has also launched a recycling programme for 100% cashmere in partnership with Re-Verso, of Prato, Italy – a leading textile production company combining science and technology to create a circular economy manufacturing system for high-quality wool and cashmere. The programme, initially available in North America and Europe, allows consumers to ship their 100% cashmere items from any brand to Prato to be recycled.

www.ralphlauren.com