Blogs / Why Policy Matters Now: Insights from Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2025

Why Policy Matters Now: Insights from Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2025

Policy and Legislation
Annual Meeting

At the Annual Meeting 2025, collaboration proved integral across all policy sessions.

Howard Kwong

October 08, 2025

At Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Hong Kong, one theme rose above all others: the power of collaboration. From shifting regulations in Europe to emerging opportunities across the Asia-Pacific, our members face a complex and rapidly evolving policy landscape. No single company can navigate these challenges alone; no single government can rewrite the global sustainability story.

Through policy workshops, panels, and roundtables, our policy and public affairs team brought together policymakers, brands, manufacturers, and industry experts to exchange perspectives, share practical needs, and identify opportunities for joint action. These sessions captured member insights, created alignment on political priorities, and laid the groundwork for collective next steps.

In today’s complex trade environment, policy matters. Timely, authoritative, and practical policy matters even more, as is consistently proven by our members who tell us of the importance of our team and the work we do. I valued all connected dots along this policy-shaping journey, including a US manufacturer who shared his vision on brand engagement at the Manufacturer Interview Group then spoke again at our policy roundtable, a Cambodia-based regional industry association who inspired to drive policy advocacy together and invited me to join their Annual Meeting in November, a South Korean manufacturer shared his sustainability progress since we last met at the Cascale Forum in Ho Chi Minh City in May. As senior manager of public affairs for the APAC region, I’ve seen firsthand the growing involvement in the green transition by APAC members (also representing our largest membership growth from 2024 to 2025). We witnessed this enthusiasm in Hong Kong when we met for the Annual Meeting 2025. So without further delay, here are our team’s top insights and expectations from our four policy sessions.

The Green Deal’s New Chapter: Implications for Global Supply Chains

The session opened with a welcome video from Harvey Rouse, Ambassador and Head of Office of the European Union Delegation to Hong Kong and Macao, who outlined the latest EU sustainability policy developments and emphasized that “maintaining the drive to foster sustainability must remain a top priority of the EU.”

During the interactive discussion that followed, participants shared their reactions to the latest developments in sustainability policies. The major keywords were “confusing,” “unrealistic,” and “complex.” A live poll revealed that over 57 percent of participants view the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and Digital Product Passport (ESPR/DPP) as the most relevant Green Deal Policy, followed by the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Moderated by GIZ’s Felicia Hoeer, the panelists, Li & Fung’s Jonathan Salmon, Marina Prados Espinola of Policy Hub, Sally Peng from FTI Consulting and AmCham, explored how recent adjustments to the EU Green Deal, such as strategic delays and the shelving of initiatives like green claims, are shaping the global sustainability landscape. The session unpacked the ripple effects of these regulatory shifts, including the growing influence and readiness of manufacturers and suppliers, especially in the APAC region.

Key Takeaways

EU regulatory changes create uncertainty, but also opportunities for APAC to lead
Collaboration, data readiness, and proactive industry engagement are critical for compliance and progress
Voluntary action and innovation remain essential complements to policy frameworks

What’s next: To address the uncertainty many members are facing, Cascale will continue essential knowledge-sharing initiatives to guide members on upcoming regulations. In order to advance on the Green Deal’s ambitions, Cascale works closely with Policy Hub to engage with policymakers.

APAC Policy Priorities Workshop: Energy and Opportunity

We kicked off with a brief panel discussion with Eric Jen from Ren Energy and Trimco’s Mayko Tatsuyama Mathisen, an APAC Policy Member Expert Team (MET) member. They examined the evolving policy and legislative landscape across Asia-Pacific, focusing on energy transitions and Cascale’s strategic pillars: combating climate change and ensuring decent work for all. Members of the newly formed APAC Policy MET joined industry experts to identify opportunities, gaps, and pathways for collaboration.

Key Takeaways

Policy alignment is essential to accelerate renewable energy adoption
Regional collaboration strengthens industry influence on APAC legislation
Supporting energy transitions is critical to both climate and decent work priorities

What’s next: We will consolidate those valuable insights to facilitate the upcoming APAC Policy MET discussions and inform the development of Cascale’s regional policy priorities.

Aligning Policy and Practice: Responsible Business Conduct

We aimed to bridge global policy and practical business conduct, focusing on how due diligence legislation, such as the CS3D, can drive fairer purchasing practices. Moderated by Solidaridad’s Tamar Hoek, with PDS Limited’s Buddhi Paranamana and Good Business Lab’s Renukaprasad B on the panel, the discussion explored how aligning tools like the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) with regulatory frameworks can support implementation. Speakers shared concrete steps brands can take to close gaps between commitments and action, and encouraged continued engagement through follow-up tools, reports, and policy collaboration.

Key Takeaways

Due diligence laws are accelerating purchasing reform
Aligning the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) with CS3D can help close industry gaps
Practical, near-term actions support legal and ethical compliance

What’s Next: Cascale keeps elevating the suppliers’ voice in the policymaking process to unlock transformative change and leverage the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) in the due diligence legislation to close industry gaps.

CSRD in Practice: From Reporting Pain Points to Practical Solutions

This invite-only roundtable brought together key Cascale members to discuss the practical realities of complying with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), supported by industry experts, Cascale’s Maravillas Rodriguez Zarco, SLCP’s Tom Mason, and Policy Hub’s Marina Prados Espinola. Members identified common CSRD pain points and reporting challenges. These will now be turned into recommendations for policymakers that will be helpful in providing greater clarity and support.

Key Takeaways

Simplification is essential to translate lengthy reports into concrete, actionable steps
Clear and timely guidance can help to avoid inconsistent auditing standards, including the Double Materiality Assessment (DMA)
Phased implementation to adopt a staged approach to streamline data collection and verification

What’s next: In the coming months, Cascale aims to share these results with policymakers through appropriate channels, such as targeted briefings or stakeholder dialogues. For more insights, read the full Annual Meeting Executive Summary 2025.

Reflections and Next Steps

The power of collaboration sparked in Hong Kong is driving our companies and governments to advance sustainable policies every day. Cascale remains committed to achieving our global public affairs strategic goals and policy priorities — through advocacy, knowledge sharing, and alignment of regulatory tools and industry positions. We will integrate valuable insights from this year’s Annual Meeting into our daily work, engaging closely with members — including the Public Affairs Strategic Council and the Policy Member Experts Terms in APAC and the U.S. — as well as Policy Hub and other key policy stakeholders.

Even though the road ahead is challenging, I’m excited by the opportunity for us to dive even further to build greater alignment, inclusion, and clarity into our collective policy work. The commitment I’ve witnessed from members at our Annual Meeting sent a strong signal of what’s to come. As a marathon runner, there are no shortcuts, but what makes me thrilled is that we can run further, because we run together. We may not address all challenges at once, but we can run mile by mile. We are not only a partner, but part of each other. So let’s continue our Movement for All, the theme of the 2025 Cascale Annual Meeting, until we meet again: in Sri Lanka for the next Cascale Forum, as well as in Athens, Greece, for the next Annual Meeting, or in the many smaller gatherings that Cascale’s Public Affairs team will lead around the world.

Stay Connected

Subscribe to the Cascale Public Affairs Newsletter and join us for upcoming webinars and working sessions as we continue advancing policy and practice together.

Subscribe Now Explore Membership

Blogs / Sustainable Furnishing Council’s Next Chapter Continues with Cascale

Sustainable Furnishing Council’s Next Chapter Continues with Cascale

Sustainable Furnishings Council
Annual Meeting

In this guest blog, Sustainable Furnishing Council’s Scarlette Tapp outlines the organization’s leadup to its 19th anniversary this fall, including the transformative announcement for the global home furnishings industry: Cascale is acquiring SFC’s key assets.

Scarlette Tapp

September 25, 2025

Nearly two decades ago, leading furniture manufacturers founded the Sustainable Furnishings Council with a simple but powerful vision: to transform the home furnishings industry through sustainability.

Today, on behalf of our Board of Directors and SFC voting members, I am proud to share that our mission is stepping onto the global stage.

By joining forces with Cascale — the global alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry — we are unlocking new opportunities for the furniture industry to lead in climate action and social responsibility.

This is not the end of SFC’s story — it is a powerful next chapter that evokes exciting new opportunities within the consumer goods industry.

SFC’s services will be delivered by Cascale, while SFC continues as a membership organization for a transitional period. This means SFC members benefit from the same trusted brand, but with expanded support from Cascale.

Our tools, programs, people and community are now part of a larger ecosystem where the impact will be broader, deeper, and global.

Our Journey: From Grassroots to Industry Leaders

Since our beginnings in 2006, SFC has been the voice for sustainability in the home furnishings industry. What started as a grassroots effort by concerned furnishings stakeholders at High Point Market (one of the largest home furnishings markets in the world) has grown into a respected industry-wide coalition.

Together, we’ve:

Championed responsible wood sourcing, spotlighting third-party certifications such Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, to fight against illegal logging which decimates our climate and contributes to biodiversity loss.
Through education, we helped members eliminate chemicals of concern in their materials, incorporate fair labor practices across the value chain, and develop circular business models.
Created signature tools like the Wood Furniture Scorecard with partner National Wildlife Federation (NWF) along with our exclusive member Eco-Insight Assessment Tool, both of which empower companies to be transparent, measure, improve, and share their progress.
Called attention to the staggering waste problem, with millions of tons of furniture (often called “fast furniture”) discarded each year.

Looking back, it is remarkable how far we’ve come — and humbling to see how our members’ leadership has transformed consumer awareness and industry standards.

Why Cascale? Why Now?

Cascale is uniquely positioned to take our mission to the next level. Formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale rebranded in 2024 to reflect its expansion into consumer goods industries beyond fashion — including furnishings. With over 300 global members representing brands, manufacturers, retailers, and NGOs, Cascale is a proven force for systemic change, catalyzing collective action at scale.

Through tools like the Higg Index, and the Better Buying supplier surveys of buyer purchasing practices, which it acquired earlier this year, Cascale has helped companies worldwide measure their environmental and social impact. Now, by bringing SFC’s assets and expertise into the alliance, the home furnishings industry will gain access to these robust global frameworks — while Cascale gains the insights, relationships, and tools SFC has built over nearly two decades.

To emphasize, this marks a strategic fit for all organizations and comes at a prime moment, especially witnessing the momentum first-hand atCascale’s flagship Annual Meeting, where members get together to solve systemic challenges. While our industry’s sustainability challenges are complex, together we can accelerate solutions at scale.

What This Means for Our Industry and Our Members

For SFC members: The SFC services will be delivered by Cascale, while SFC continues as a membership organization for a transitional period. This means SFC members benefit from the same trusted brand but with expanded support from Cascale.
For Cascale members: Over time, as the integration process progresses, SFC’s key assets will be accessible to Cascale members.
For the industry: While Cascale is acquiring the SFC brand, SFC will continue to use its logo and branding to ensure ongoing recognition amid transition.
For consumers: The work we’ve done at SFC to educate and inspire more conscious purchasing will now resonate even more powerfully, as global brands and retailers align around shared standards under Cascale’s mission.

Looking Forward: A Call to Action

I invite every one of you — members, partners, and friends of SFC — to stay ambitious and engaged with us in shaping this next chapter. Together, we are scaling our vision and impact in ways that will define the future of our industry.

As I reflect on 19 years of SFC’s journey, I am grateful for the passion and persistence of our founders, members, partners, and supporters. Together, we’ve proven that sustainability is not a trend — it’s the future of furnishings.

For More, See the Press Release

Blogs / Reflections from Hong Kong: Our Biggest and Best Annual Meeting Yet

Reflections from Hong Kong: Our Biggest and Best Annual Meeting Yet

Annual Meeting

In his latest blog, Lee Green shares key takeaways from the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025, from bold CEO insights to urgent calls for climate action and responsible purchasing practices.

Cascale staff at the Annual Meeting 2025

Lee Green

September 24, 2025

After a 16-hour flight, several hours of entertaining my three-year-old, and despite the jet-lag, I’m putting pen to paper on my reflections while my little one takes her afternoon nap. It feels like the right moment to reflect — because our Annual Meeting 2025 in Hong Kong was nothing short of extraordinary.

This was our biggest and best yet: over 700 attendees, 100+ speakers, and 33 sponsors came together under the theme “A Movement for All.” It was the first time our programming centered outright on two problem statements, including unpacking how to make responsible purchasing practices the norm and trouble-shooting more effective buyer-supplier engagement models. The energy in every room made it clear: this is a movement that’s only gaining momentum.

What stood out most this year was the engagement of manufacturers. Their presence and voice were felt across every stage, roundtable, and networking moment. It was noticed by everyone. And rightly so, because accelerating climate action and embedding responsible purchasing practices can only happen if manufacturers are at the center of the conversation.

The content and dialogue across the two days were outstanding. From urgent discussions on climate risks and adaptation, to bold ideas for rewiring buyer–supplier relationships, to practical steps on responsible purchasing practices, every session pushed us forward. The honesty from C-suite leaders (we also had more CEOs joining the event than ever before) was refreshing, the insights from practitioners were invaluable, and the collective sense of responsibility was inspiring.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the remarkable effort of the Cascale team. From content planning to logistics, from sponsorship to media, from speaker support to production — you brought passion, professionalism, and determination at every step. I am deeply proud of what we accomplished together. So, thank you again for your collective efforts.

As I look back, here are a few personal takeaways from Hong Kong:

Manufacturers stepped up. Their engagement and honesty shaped the dialogue in a way that felt fresh and much-needed.
C-suite leaders didn’t hold back. The candid discussion on power dynamics and purchasing practices showed both the challenges and the pathways forward.
Climate action and decent work are inseparable. Every conversation circled back to the fact that these aren’t parallel issues; they’re intertwined.
Energy and appetite for solutions are strong. Despite political headwinds, the sense of urgency and collaboration was palpable.
Our team raised the bar. From planning to execution, this was Cascale at its best, and I couldn’t be prouder.

This event has set a new bar. We broke records, built new connections, and sparked ideas that will shape our industry in the months and years ahead. And we’re not stopping here. We’re already excited for what’s next: the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Greece.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Hong Kong, in person and virtually. Together, we’re proving that sustainability is not just a goal, but a business imperative. And together, we are building a movement for all.

— Lee GreenVP, Marketing & Communications

Press Releases / Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 Unites Global Leaders to Rewire the Industry for Climate Action and Decent Work

Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 Unites Global Leaders to Rewire the Industry for Climate Action and Decent Work

Annual Meeting

Two-day flagship event draws record 700 participants across five stages to tackle climate, purchasing practices, and supply chain resilience

September 23, 2025

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – September 23, 2025: The Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 was more than an event — it was a movement in action. Over two days, 700 attendees, 100+ speakers, and 33 sponsors came together under the theme “A Movement for All.” From the main stage to hands-on workshops and closed-door roundtables, the global community’s energy was unmistakable: frank conversations, bold commitments, and a shared determination to rewire the industry.

“The Cascale Annual Meeting was a powerful reminder that no single actor can solve the challenges we face alone,” said Harsh Saini, interim CEO, Cascale. “By bringing manufacturers, brands, policymakers, and innovators together, we are building the partnerships needed to accelerate climate action and improve lives across the value chain.”

This year’s focus zeroed in on two urgent questions:

How can brand–manufacturer engagement unlock the decarbonization needed to meet science-based targets?
What will it take for responsible purchasing practices to become the baseline, not the exception?

C-suite leaders spoke candidly. “It’s important that sustainability should be given equal if not more weightage in the conversation [with brands and buyers],” reflected Dinesh Virwani, Executive Vice Chairman, Epic Group. Others echoed the urgency for rebalancing power in buyer–supplier relationships to enable investment in decarbonization and worker well-being, and made an urgent call for brand CEOs to get back on the factory floor.

On day one, Joseph Phi, CEO of Li & Fung, opened his session on the importance of working together to turn ESG ambition into action, and action into impact. He then closed with an even stronger message: “In the end, sustainability is not about saving the planet from business. It’s about saving business on a changing planet.” The day ended with a stirring call to action from David Begbie of Crossroads Foundation, who told the audience: “This cannot be a movement for some; it must be a movement for all.”

Day two brought further energy with Suren Fernando, CEO of MAS Holdings, underscoring the importance of shared commitments between brands and manufacturers, noting: “What we have found essential is to work with partners who believe, like we do, that sustainability is a driver of resilience – not a tradeoff against it, “ and an electrifying panel amplifying supplier voices. The meeting closed with Hon. Sunny Tan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Council, celebrating Hong Kong’s role as a hub for global fashion leadership.

Reflecting on the record-breaking event, Lee Green, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Cascale, added: “This was our biggest and best Annual Meeting yet. What stood out was the presence and candor of manufacturers. Their voices shaped the dialogue and reminded everyone that transformation starts where products are made. The conversations were real, the commitments tangible, and the sense of shared purpose stronger than ever.”

The program also saw the launch of Cascale’s China Country Report: Macroeconomic and Sustainability Analysis, highlighting opportunities for renewable energy, circularity, and digital innovation in China’s apparel sector, and an announcement from Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder, on Cascale’s acquisition of key assets of the Sustainable Furnishing Council.

Sponsors included Li & Fung & LFX, Retraced, Epic Group, TAL Apparel, VF Corporation, Nike, and many others.

Looking ahead, Cascale will continue to raise the bar: the Annual Meeting 2026 will take place in Greece, further cementing its reputation as the leading convening space for driving collective sustainability action. Contact Cascale’s events team to learn more.

Explore the Executive Summary

Publications / Executive Summary: Cascale Annual Meeting 2025

Executive Summary: Cascale Annual Meeting 2025

Annual Meeting

Relive the highlights and explore key takeaways from the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025, held in Hong Kong on September 15-17, 2025.

Download publication

September 23, 2025

Press Releases / Cascale Acquires Sustainable Furnishings Council Key Assets

Cascale Acquires Sustainable Furnishings Council Key Assets

Annual Meeting

Cascale has acquired key assets of the nonprofit Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), the only industry-wide member organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in home furnishings.

Rick Ridgeway and Scarlette Tapp on stage at the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025

September 16, 2025

Acquisition will expand goals to combat climate change and support decent work in the global home furnishings sector

Hong Kong – September 17, 2025: Cascale has acquired key assets of the nonprofit Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), the only industry-wide member organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in home furnishings. After expanding beyond apparel into the wider consumer goods industry, which includes home furnishings, Cascale leads the drive to combat climate change and support decent work across the value chain. At Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder, joined Scarlette Tapp, SFC Executive Director, to announce the key asset acquisition.

SFC services will now be delivered by Cascale, while SFC continues as a membership organisation for a transitional period. This means SFC members benefit from the same trusted brand — with expanded global support and expertise from Cascale.

“From the beginning, Cascale has worked to unite industries around a shared vision: tackling climate change and supporting decent work throughout the value chain,” said Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder. “Sustainability cannot be siloed — it must be systemic, spanning every sector that touches people and the planet.”

“For nearly two decades, SFC has worked to embed sustainability in the DNA of the home furnishings industry,” said Scarlette Tapp, Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council. “Cascale will ensure that this legacy will not only continue, but scale globally — supporting businesses that are committed to reducing their environmental footprint and improving social outcomes.”

“Cascale is evolving as the leading industry association for sustainability in consumer goods,” said Harsh Saini, Cascale interim CEO. “We’re expanding our capacity to drive climate action and decent work across a broader value chain — from fashion to furnishings and beyond.”

“This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for SFC,” said Michela O’Connor Abrams, MOCA+ CEO and SFC Board Chair. “Cascale’s global reach and cross-sector leadership bring new energy to our mission and greater impact for our members, who have long been pioneers in sustainable design and manufacturing.”

Cascale will uphold SFC’s nearly 20-year legacy of education, training, and advocacy. Based in North Carolina, with most members based in North America, SFC leads efforts to promote decarbonization, reduce waste, and minimize the use of toxic chemicals in the home furnishings value chain. SFC’s tools and expertise, including the Eco-Insight Assessment Tool, accredited sustainability course, and support for the Wood Furniture Scorecard program, will continue to be available to SFC members and will eventually become part of Cascale’s global offering, benefiting members worldwide. The move follows the successful acquisition, announced in February 2025, of the Better Buying Institute’s tools.

Blogs / Cascale Annual Meeting to Spotlight Sourcing and Supply Chain Legacy of Li & Fung and LFX

Cascale Annual Meeting to Spotlight Sourcing and Supply Chain Legacy of Li & Fung and LFX

Annual Meeting

The Hong Kong-headquartered Li & Fung, and LFX, will take the stage at the Cascale Annual Meeting to share how a century of expertise, deep data insights, and sustainable values impacts the future of supply chain management.

This sponsored content is provided as part of Li & Fung and LFX’s platinum sponsorship of the Annual Meeting 2025.

Convening In Hong Kong

Cascale’s Annual Meeting is its flagship event, where brand, retailer, manufacturer, and affiliate members come together to drive impact at scale. Last year, a record 600+ attendees convened in Munich; this year in Hong Kong, attendance is set to break that record. Reflecting the theme “A Movement for All,” the hybrid event offers opportunities for high-impact learning and collaboration on collective action to build a more sustainable and equitable future.

Highlights will include the Day 1 Opening Keynote with Joseph Phi, chief executive officer of Li & Fung, whose message will be one of next-generation leadership and logistical excellence. The keynote will provide a glimpse into the heritage of the company as well as the technological advancements that are critical to the future of the textile and apparel industry.

In the “Power, Partnership, and Purchasing: Rewiring the Brand-Supplier Relationship,” Ed Lam, CEO, LFX, and executive board director, Li & Fung will contribute his experience on how digital transformation, supply chain financing, and ecosystem partnerships play a role in rewiring the industry. The conversation includes Anne Laure Descours, sustainability advisor, PUMA; Dinesh Virwani, executive vice chairman, Epic Group; and Roger Lee, chief executive officer, TAL Apparel, among others. The session, moderated by former news anchor and journalist Isabelle Kumar, will look to bring insights into the existing power dynamic between buyers and suppliers, while offering a means to better finance industry efforts.

In a separate session, Jonathan Salmon, Li & Fung’s head of sustainability, will join speakers from Policy Hub, and FTI Consulting at “The Green Deal’s New Chapter: Are Europe’s Simplification Efforts Rewriting the Global Sustainability Story?” mainstage session, moderated by Felicia Hoeer, project manager Green Button, GIZ Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit. Speakers will explore recent European policy efforts to simplify reporting requirements and discuss whether adjusted timelines and retracted scope will help or hinder the sustainability business case.

Li & Fung and LFX will also host a roundtable titled “Supply Chain Finance: A Catalyst for Growth and Sustainability.” The invite-only roundtable is dedicated to exploring solutions on financing greener supply chains. Industry professionals will maximize the attendee engagement in an open dialogue.

Inspiring Collective Transformation

Driven by today’s informed consumer, investor, and supply chain leaders, sourcing criteria that once reigned as supreme (such as cost, quality, and efficiency) now comes with the added expectations of data excellence, regulatory adherence, and innovations in supply chain visibility and sustainability. It is through this more equitable lens that people, planet, and supply chain partners become material to supply chain excellence.

As the Annual Meeting 2025 will showcase, companies that evolve with responsibility at the forefront will carve the future of business. From raw material to final production, consumer goods players can’t lose sight of the critical importance of partnership in the sustainability equation. With companies such as Li & Fung and LFX among the dedicated list of speakers and sponsors, Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2025 will be a critical step towards collective transformation and scalable action.

See What’s In Store at the Annual Meeting 2025

Blogs / How Cascale, Fair Wear and SLCP Activate Human Rights Due Diligence at the Annual Meeting 2025

How Cascale, Fair Wear and SLCP Activate Human Rights Due Diligence at the Annual Meeting 2025

Decent Work
Responsible Purchasing Practices
Partnership and Collaboration
Annual Meeting

Cascale, Fair Wear, SLCP will dive deeper on creating impactful human rights due diligence at the Annual Meeting 2025.

September 05, 2025

Cascale’s Annual Member Meeting, “A Movement for All,” takes place in Hong Kong September 15 to 17. The event will address how we, as an industry, can collectively address and solve two of the most critical challenges facing our industry today: Combating Climate Change and Supporting Decent Work For All.

It’s an outsized challenge but a shared commitment. Leaders today are those frontrunner brands, suppliers, policymakers, and non-corporate players that are doubling down on climate change and decent work as a business imperative. Together, they are confronting a dizzying array of duplicate initiatives, repeat data sources, and outdated auditing systems in place. By collectively refining the approach to measuring, verifying, and enhancing social and environmental performance, compliance and responsible purchasing practices becomes a nearer reality.

The State of Play

Compliance is a growing area of interest for industry players, and convening organizations have a role to play. In its background note on regulatory developments concerning due diligence for responsible business conduct, The Role of Sustainability Initiatives in Mandatory Due Diligence (OECD, 2022) recognizes Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs) as playing a crucial role, acting as both facilitators, providing tools and guidance for companies, and verifiers, assessing and potentially certifying company practices. But the guidance also notes that, despite recent examples of initiatives converging and aligning approaches, the landscape is still complex and confusing, with 455 ecolabels and various environmental schemes listed in the Ecolabel Index at the time of writing.

In this playing field and true to this year’s event theme, Cascale, the Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), and Fair Wear will come together to be greater than the sum of our already formidable parts to promote impactful Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) by brands and suppliers. We aim to support stakeholders on their journey through building and leveraging joint tools, best practices, and accountability mechanisms.

This joint work builds on discussions we originally held at our Annual Meeting in Boston, back in 2023, exploring the potential of HRDD as an organizing principle for the industry, and aims to be complementary – rather than additive. Because it’s only together that can we scale accountability in an actionable way.

Combining Unique Strengths

Between us, we believe we have all the tools a company needs to conduct impactful due diligence. Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index suite of tools, and since February, has owned the Better Buying toolset informed by surveys on brand and retailer purchasing practices. We have over 300 members and 40,000 Higg Index users. Fair Wear led the industry effort towards alignment on the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing, while its HRDD Academy supports brands to better understand the HRDD cycle and practically implement human rights due diligence both within the company and across the supply chain. SLCP now boasts over 250 signatories and its Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) forms the foundation of Cascale’s Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM).

It’s an executive priority. “Cascale, SLCP, and Fair Wear see great opportunities in driving impactful HRDD by working more closely together,” said Harsh Saini, interim chief executive officer of Cascale. “Together, we have immense convening power, expertise, and volumes of credible and actionable data. We are all speaking the same language on due diligence, and our tools fit together and complement each other, providing brands and retailers with everything they need for their due diligence journey.”

As well, the work becomes a shared responsibility. “We’re united around a shared vision,” added Annabel Meurs, executive director of Fair Wear. “This will set the tone in the industry on what impactful due diligence looks like, holding brands and retailers accountable in making progress and to scale up best practices that will have a real impact on workers.”

Steve Harris, COO of SLCP , underscored: “Our three organizations will work together to develop and cross-promote each bilateral partner’s tools, drive collective action, sharing HRDD knowledge and best practice across the whole of our membership and signatories, and advocating for decent work with policymakers.”

The next opportunity to hear more about our collective expression of deepened and more targeted coordination will be at Cascale’s Annual Member Meeting in Hong Kong, September 15 to 17. The event will feature presentations from Fair Wear and SLCP on key topics, including making responsible purchasing practices the norm within the industry, and what needs to happen next to drive real movement on audit fatigue. You can also visit the Cascale, Fair Wear, and SLCP booths in the exhibition area to find out more about the tools and guidance available.

Blogs / Creating a Solutions-Oriented Agenda for Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting

Creating a Solutions-Oriented Agenda for Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting is built around solutions. Discover how this year’s program is designed to deliver real progress for our industry.

Jeremy Lardeau

August 22, 2025

The Cascale Annual Meeting is our flagship event — a milestone for our alliance and the industry.

For Cascale staff, it’s an all-hands-on-deck moment as we aim to deliver an exclusive, high-caliber event experience for members: professional branding, innovative formats, and actionable content designed to drive progress.

This year, the agenda has been shaped with one clear objective: to ensure every session delivers concrete value and practical takeaways that members can apply in their own operations. We’ve moved beyond passive knowledge-sharing toward a more participatory, solutions-driven approach; one that prioritizes solving real, systemic problems. While we still have panels and presentations for information-sharing, our workshops and manufacturer-retailer roundtables offer a space for peer-to-peer problem solving. This is how your case studies come to life to solve real-world problems.

To keep the focus sharp and outcomes tangible, the program is anchored around two critical challenges drawn directly from Cascale’s strategic plan and our commitment to combating climate change and supporting decent work for all. These problem statements frame the conversations from the opening plenary through to the closing session, ensuring members leave with not just insights, but actionable paths forward.

1. Combating Climate Change: Fairness & Equity in Climate Action

What is the engagement model between brands and manufacturers that will effectively unlock the decarbonization efforts needed to meet ambitious climate targets?

Despite years of effort, progress on decarbonization has been slower than the urgency demands. Challenges include duplicative initiatives, inconsistent brand approaches, and costly upgrades without clear ROI for manufacturers and suppliers. A fair and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels requires shifting from top-down mandates to a collaborative model where manufacturers have a real voice in shaping solutions.

This track will set the scene with a candid panel discussion on systemic barriers before diving into problem-solving workshops and member-led case studies. The goal: to identify practical, equitable engagement models that align ambition with on-the-ground realities.

Here’s just a selection of those we’ve curated to address some of the thorniest systemic barriers to our industry decarbonization efforts:

Aligning Sourcing and Sustainability: Collaborative Decarbonization in the Apparel Supply Chain
Senior sourcing executives juggle competing priorities — cost, quality, lead time, resilience, and sustainability. Through an audience-participative workshop and panel discussion, this session explores how sustainability is currently embedded and debates alternative models of brand–manufacturer collaboration.

Engaging Across Tiers for Supply Chain Decarbonization
The bulk of GHG emissions occur in Tier 2 material manufacturing, yet engagement here is often limited. This session looks at multi-partite engagement models between brands, sourcing agents, garment producers, and upstream textile manufacturers.

Understanding the Journey: Sharing on Scope 3 Emissions Challenges and Opportunities
Hear from leading manufacturers extending climate action into their own Scope 3 emissions, including successes, setbacks, and lessons learned.

Climate Adaptation: Understanding Climate Risks and Building Resilience in the Supply Chain
We cannot bring up fairness and equity in climate action without addressing the disproportionate impact that climate change is having in many manufacturing countries. This session will examine these impacts and showcase strategies manufacturers and their partners are using to adapt — protecting people, safeguarding production, and building long-term resilience from cotton fields to garment factories.

Emerging Decarbonization Financing Models
Attendees can anticipate real-time case studies to help showcase the emerging examples of sustainable financing models. Designed as an engaging roundtable, this format will allow for maximum engagement from speakers and attendees.

2. Supporting Decent Work for All: Making Responsible Purchasing Practices the Norm

What will it take to make responsible purchasing practices the baseline expectation rather than the exception?

Decent work starts with how brands buy, and there are many global factors impacting this process. Yet, for many manufacturers, late payments, unrealistic lead times, and last-minute changes are still commonplace. The Better Buying Garment Scorecard 2025 found progress is, in fact, slowing. With Better Buying now part of Cascale, we have powerful tools and data to address these issues — but adoption, integration across business functions, and follow-through are still lacking.

This track will confront the gap between intention and impact, exploring how to embed responsible purchasing practices across sourcing, finance, and leadership, while amplifying supplier voices in shaping buying behavior. It will also tackle the practicalities of aligning with due diligence legislation, anticipating ripple effects of global trade, and building shared accountability across the value chain.

Take a look at just some of the sessions being developed on this topic, with more available to choose from:

Setting the Scene: What Will it Take to Make Responsible Purchasing Practices the Norm, Not the Exception?
This opening panel will confront the reality that harmful purchasing behaviors persist despite widespread recognition of the problem. It will unpack why progress has slowed, explore the potential unlocked by Cascale’s integration of Better Buying, and outline how aligned data, shared commitment, and collective leadership can shift the industry from intention to action.

What’s Holding Back Supplier Voice and How Do We Fix It?
This session will examine why supplier feedback often goes unheard and why tools like the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index see limited uptake. It will explore barriers such as fear and fatigue, highlight the potential of collective, anonymized feedback, and identify strategies for strengthening safe, effective supplier-led engagement.

Audit Fatigue: From Dialogue to Real Movement
As regulatory demands grow, audit duplication continues to drain resources without delivering proportional value. This session will explore convergence, shared data, and mutual recognition as pathways to credible, scalable solutions, focusing on how to build trust and reduce repetitive assessments across the value chain.

Aligning Policy and Practice: Advancing Responsible Business Conduct and Fair Purchasing Practices
Bringing together experts in social affairs and legislation, this session will examine the role of policy in advancing responsible purchasing. It will address alignment with due diligence laws, such as the EU CSDDD, and showcase Cascale’s work to connect Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index data with regulatory frameworks.

View the full program to learn more.

Expanding Access

In response to member feedback, two stages will be live-streamed for in-person and online attendees, with recordings available within an hour. Additional virtual-only sessions will be scheduled for European and Americas time zones to ensure global participation.

A Collaborative Effort

The program is developed with guidance from a dedicated Program Advisory Council and internal champions:

Advisory Council: Dr. Delman Lee (TAL Apparel), Dhanujie Jayapala (MAS Holdings), Dr. Katy Stevens (European Outdoor Group), Matthew Thurston (REI), Priyanka Khanna (Fashion for Good), Quentin Thorel (CIEL Textile), Shasta O’Loughlin (KMD Brands)
Internal Champions: Christina Fleming (Events), Jeremy Lardeau and Chris Marshall (Climate), Katie Hess (Decent Work)

Join Us

This is more than an agenda: it’s a commitment to progress. Join us at the Cascale Annual Meeting to help co-create the solutions, collaborations, and commitments that will shape what comes next for our industry.

Cascale’s Lee Green, Christina Fleming, Katie Hess, and Chris Marshall also contributed their insights to this blog.

Blogs / Want to Build, Attend a Sustainable Event? Consider Cascale’s Event Experience

Want to Build, Attend a Sustainable Event? Consider Cascale’s Event Experience

Annual Meeting
Cascale Forum

Lee Green

April 08, 2025

Over the past couple of years, we’ve been on a purposeful journey to elevate our event experiences and build flagship moments for our industry.

Our Annual Meeting in Munich last year truly exemplified this evolution, showcasing the quality of engagement and dialogue that Cascale events now embody. Looking ahead, we’re equally thrilled to launch our new format — the Cascale Forum in Ho Chi Minh City this May — which strives for even more impactful conversations and connections.

Yet, as we reflect more deeply on the role events play at Cascale, we know they must be more than just memorable and valuable; they must also be financially sustainable. So, what are the critical elements we consider to ensure every Cascale event hits the mark?

Content that Inspires and Delivers Real Impact

Exceptional content is non-negotiable. Our industry faces significant, urgent challenges — from climate action and regulatory compliance to shifting consumer demands. Each Cascale event is carefully curated to deliver actionable insights and practical solutions. When you join us, our commitment is that you’ll leave not just informed, but truly inspired and equipped for meaningful action. You can check out the Annual Meeting 2024 executive summary if you want to see this in action.

Networking that Builds Lasting Relationships

We understand networking should be meaningful, not just transactional. At Cascale events, we create spaces that encourage genuine connections, whether through focused workshops and training, interactive breakout sessions, or informal meet-ups. These interactions are designed to foster enduring relationships among industry leaders, policymakers, solution providers, and innovators. Our custom event app also helps drive purposeful networking via its virtual business card exchange and direct messaging long before the event kicks off.

Thoughtful Sponsorships and Genuine Partnerships

Sponsorship at Cascale events isn’t simply about visibility — it’s about genuine thought leadership and collaboration. While we exhibit and highlight industry leaders and innovative solutions providers, our stage remains a space for authentic, meaningful contributions, carefully chosen for alignment with our values and goals. Our commitment is clear: we don’t compromise quality or credibility for financial gain. We showcase leaders who drive real industry transformation.

Curious about showcasing your leadership in sustainability? View our sponsorship opportunities for our events or engage our executives in yours.

Inclusive, Sustainable, and Meaningful Delegate Experiences

Your experience matters profoundly to us. Every aspect of a Cascale event is thoughtfully considered — from inclusive and accessible venues to wellbeing-focused schedules incorporating comfortable spaces, dietary considerations, and wellness breaks. Sustainability is embedded into every detail: eco-friendly venues, responsibly-sourced catering, digital-first resources, and custom-built exhibition booths made from reusable and recyclable materials. Even down to the recyclable name badges, these thoughtful choices ensure our events authentically reflect our shared values.

Join Us on This Journey

We warmly invite you to join us for our upcoming Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City and our Annual Meeting (though the latter is for members only). Experience firsthand how we’re reshaping event experiences for our global community, participate in transformative conversations, build impactful relationships, and contribute actively to the sustainability movement.

Ready to be part of something extraordinary?