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Cascale members elect new and returning board directors
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – July 8, 2025: Cascale, the global nonprofit alliance of more than 300 members across the consumer goods industry, has elected a new board director and re-elected two incumbent board directors to serve on its Board of Directors. These elections to the organization’s parity-based Board ensure equitable representation across manufacturers, affiliates, and brands & retailers to guide Cascale’s aim of powering collective action for a more sustainable, restorative consumer goods industry.
Cascale is pleased to welcome the following new board director:
Mallory McConnell, VP, Corporate Responsibility Operations, PVH Corp
McConnell is a seasoned sustainability executive at PVH Corp, where she leads global programs in ethical sourcing, social compliance, and environmental impact, integrating human rights and environmental stewardship across the apparel supply chain. With over a decade of experience, she has designed and implemented ESG strategies that boost operational efficiency and drive long-term business value. A strategic, solutions-driven leader, McConnell excels at building cross-sector partnerships, enhancing transparency, and delivering measurable impact. She will join Cascale’s Board as the representative for the Brand & Retailer member caucus.
Cascale also congratulates the following individuals on their re-election to the board:
Tamar Hoek, Senior Policy Director, Sustainable Fashion, Solidaridad and Cascale Board Chair
Hoek serves as senior policy director, sustainable fashion for Solidaridad, where she leads global advocacy on climate action, decent work, and responsible purchasing in fashion supply chains. She collaborates with public and private stakeholders to advance sustainable practices and effective regulation. Hoek has served on Cascale’s Board representing affiliate members since 2021, and contributes to multi-stakeholder initiatives including Better Cotton and the Policy Hub. At Solidaridad, she aligns industry actors to drive measurable improvements and impact in fashion production worldwide. Hoek will continue to represent Cascale’s Affiliate member caucus.
Krishna Manda, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability, Lenzing Group and Cascale Board Vice Chair
Manda is Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Lenzing Group, where he embeds responsible practices into core business functions and fosters culture change anchored in sustainability values. He leads executive-level strategy for TENCEL™, ECOVERO™, and REFIBRA™ fibers—advancing circular-economy solutions in fashion, home textiles, and hygiene products. Since 2022, Manda has served on Cascale’s Board representing the Manufacturer member caucus. He previously co-chaired the Policy Hub from 2020–2022 and holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Utrecht University. He will continue to represent the Manufacturer member caucus.
“The 2025 class brings both continuity and fresh insights,” said Harsh Saini, Cascale Board Director, Governance & Nomination Committee Chair, and interim CEO (as of August 1). “Tamar and Krishna’s ongoing service, together with Mallory’s operational expertise, will strengthen our Board’s ability to steer Cascale’s strategic plan and drive transformative industry change.”
“Strong governance is the backbone of Cascale’s impact,” said Colin Browne, Cascale CEO. “With this mix of experienced directors and new talent at the helm, I’m confident we’ll accelerate our mission—leveraging data, driving collective action, and continuing to build an industry that gives more than it takes.”
The newly-elected directors will be officially seated at the Q3 Board meeting in Hong Kong on September 15, 2025, which will be held in conjunction with the 2025 Cascale Annual Meeting.
Cascale also extends its heartfelt thanks to Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade and government affairs at VF Corporation, whose dedicated service on the Cascale Board concludes this September 2025. Sean’s steadfast leadership has laid a strong foundation for the organization’s continued progress. The Board is grateful for his many contributions and looks forward to building on the momentum he helped create.
For more information about Cascale’s governance and to view the current Board of Directors, please visit our governance webpage.
ABOUT CASCALE
Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.
Cascale welcomes new members in Q1 including GSCS International Ltd, Just Brands, Gokaldas Exports, Minerva Sustainability, Retraced, schuh, among others.
As we reflect on the momentum from the first quarter of 2025, Cascale is proud to welcome a diverse group of new members to our global network.
Spanning manufacturers, brands, retailers, and service providers, these organizations represent the wide range of voices and expertise needed to scale sustainability solutions across the value chain. Their decision to join Cascale reflects a shared commitment to impact — an approach that turns ambition into measurable progress.
Meet the Newest Members of Our Global Network
We’re excited to introduce our Q1 2025 members, who bring a wealth of experience, innovation, and drive to the Cascale community. Each of these organizations is now part of a growing global movement to align on shared standards, leverage powerful tools like the Higg Index, and co-create solutions rooted in lived realities.
These new members strengthen Cascale’s global network and reinforce our belief that no organization can drive industry transformation alone. Through aligned tools, shared goals, and actionable data, we move forward — together.
Many of our new members are already beginning to explore Cascale’s tools, collaborative projects, and peer learning opportunities. While each is at a different point in their sustainability journey, they share a common intent: to make credible, lasting improvements and to contribute to a more responsible consumer goods industry.
GSCS International Ltd, a global certification and verification body operating in over 16 countries, sees Cascale as a strategic partner in elevating the role of service providers.
Cascale has always been instrumental in the growth of fellow service providers, by supporting us in elevating our role in a positive direction. Joining hands with Cascale shall uplift GSCS’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
— Fairooz Shahana, chief sustainability officer, GSCS International Ltd.
For Just Brands, joining Cascale marks a deepening of their environmental and social accountability across the supply chain.
We’re working towards comprehensive monitoring up to Tier 2 and beyond, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other key impacts—such as wastewater, production waste, and chemical use. The Higg Index tools are instrumental in tracking our progress and driving credible, data-backed improvements.
– Suzanne Wolfert, corporate responsibility coordinator, Just Brands
Gokaldas Exports, one of India’s largest apparel manufacturers, is beginning to integrate Higg Index tools across its 31 facilities to reinforce its commitment to measurable sustainability.
This membership will enable us to enhance transparency, drive accountability, and collaborate on industry-wide efforts for a more sustainable future.
– Pranjal Goswami, chief sustainability officer, Gokaldas Exports
As a verification and training leader in Turkey, Minerva Sustainability brings regional expertise to the global stage through its membership.
We joined Cascale to support global collaboration and contribute our expertise in verification and training for a more sustainable textile industry. Through the network, we aim to help facilities and brands improve their environmental and social performance with credible assessments and actionable insights.
– Alaaddin Okur, sustainability director, Minerva Sustainability
For Retraced, a traceability platform helping brands bring transparency to their supply chains, membership offers a space to drive digital innovation through industry-wide cooperation.
We joined Cascale because we believe collective action is the key to driving real, scalable change in the fashion industry. We’re excited to connect with and learn from like-minded organizations within the Cascale network, and we look forward to working together to help brands and suppliers accelerate their sustainability efforts and create a positive, lasting impact.
— Lukas Puender, Co-Founder and CEO, Retraced
UK and Ireland-based footwear retailer schuh sees its membership as an opportunity to expand collaboration and strengthen environmental efforts across its operations and supplier base.
We hope that joining Cascale will further our ambition to make schuh a leader in fashion footwear, in its journey working towards a more sustainable and ethical world. It offers us real possibilities for additional collaboration with our many brand partners and the chance to improve the environmental health of our company and that of our suppliers, in the process.
— Colin Temple, president, schuh
These early perspectives show that while each member brings something unique to the community, their values are aligned: credible data, responsible progress, and meaningful collaboration.
Cascale is more than a network — it’s a platform for collective action. We bring together stakeholders across the value chain and provide tools, partnerships, and guidance to help members make real progress on today’s most urgent sustainability challenges.
Whether you’re a manufacturer aiming to reduce audit fatigue or a brand preparing for incoming regulation, Cascale provides the infrastructure, expertise, and global network to support your journey — every step of the way.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more sustainable industry. And this is just the beginning.
Our Q1 2025 new members reflect the growing momentum we’ve seen across the first part of the year while setting the tone for the months ahead. While their paths vary, they share a vision of transparency, improvement, and collaboration that strengthens the entire Cascale community.
We are honored to support their journey and look forward to the impact we’ll achieve together.
Accepting nominations for the 2025 Board of Directors election from April 21 to May 9, 2025
Cascale has officially opened nominations for its 2025 Board of Directors Election. The Board plays a critical role in charting the organization’s strategic direction and ensuring its financial integrity through rigorous oversight and fair representation. Committed to inclusivity and balanced representation, the nine-member Board is structured to include three directors each from Cascale’s brand & retailer (including holding groups), manufacturer, and affiliate caucus groups.
The nomination window is a three-week period from April 21 through May 9, 2025. Senior leaders with a proven record as executives or board members and strong financial acumen are invited to submit their candidacies during this time. Candidates should also be committed to Cascale’s strategic pillars—combating climate change and supporting decent work for all..
Key Dates for the 2025 Board Election Process:
The election process is overseen by the 2025 Governance and Nominations Committee (GNC), chaired by Harsh Saini, a global supply chain and sustainability/ESG expert. The committee also includes Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair of TAL Apparel and board director for the manufacturer caucus, and Fiona Sadler, global head of responsible sourcing at Marks & Spencer and board director for the brand & retailer caucus. Together, they ensure strict adherence to Cascale’s bylaws and maintain the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
Eligible candidates—both members and non-members—are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to shape Cascale’s future. Interested parties should review the nomination requirements and submit their application via the 2025 Board of Directors Nominations Form.
For further details on the nomination process or additional inquiries, please contact elections@cascale.org.
Leadership appointments advance Cascale’s focus on more tailored, equitable member engagement and industry-wide collaboration.
Leadership appointments advance Cascale’s focus on more tailored, equitable member engagement and industry-wide collaboration.
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – January 31, 2024: As part of the ongoing evolution of its member engagement and governance model, Cascale has expanded its membership engagement team to include Alexandra Rieger, senior director, manufacturer membership, and Joleen Ong, senior director, brand & retailer membership. This new structure reflects Cascale’s commitment to enhancing member engagement through a more tailored and equitable approach to serving the needs of its diverse membership. Alexandra Rieger and Joleen Ong bring extensive expertise in sustainability, supply chain dynamics, and human rights, and their appointments strengthen Cascale’s capacity to deliver meaningful support to members and drive impactful outcomes across the value chain.
The shift demonstrates Cascale’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making for all members, further elevating supplier and manufacturer voices while maintaining robust support for brand and retailer, and affiliate members. By fostering equitable partnerships and balancing the diverse needs of all stakeholders, Cascale is better positioned than ever to lead the consumer goods industry toward collaboration, regulatory alignment, and sustainability goals.
Andrew Martin, executive vice president at Cascale, commented, “We’re so excited to welcome Alexandra and Joleen to the Cascale team as we strengthen our commitment to more tailored and equitable member engagement. Their leadership will bring fresh perspectives, deepen our collaboration with members, and help us address the complex challenges facing the industry. With their vast experience and depth of expertise, Cascale is better positioned to empower members and advance meaningful progress across sustainability, innovation, and equitable partnership.”
Alexandra Rieger will oversee all aspects of manufacturer member engagement and impact, ensuring manufacturers are empowered with tools, resources, and support to drive industry transformation. She has cultivated over 20 years in global sourcing and supply chain leadership roles across the industry, leading manufacturers and brands like Brandix, MAS, Triumph, Gildan, and Levi Strauss.
“Joining Cascale represents an incredible opportunity to work alongside a vast membership base to advance sustainability and innovation across the value chain,” said Alexandra Rieger, senior director, manufacturer membership at Cascale. “Each supply chain has the potential to create value and an urgent responsibility to address the challenges facing the planet and its people. I’m excited to engage with manufacturers to amplify their voices, empower their contributions, and collectively drive meaningful change—particularly in areas like decarbonization and responsible sourcing. Together, we can orchestrate solutions that balance complexity, innovation, and impact.”
Joleen Ong will lead all aspects of brand & retailer member engagement, helping members drive sustainability impact through the use of Cascale’s Higg Index tools and programs. She brings over 15 years of experience in sustainability and human rights within the apparel and footwear industries and has extensive expertise in operationalizing the Higg Index tools across brands. She previously served as the sustainability director at Fanatics, where she led the integration of sustainability practices and responsible purchasing initiatives across the enterprise, and led the sustainable manufacturing and licensing programs at Columbia Sportswear Company.
Joleen Ong, senior director, brand & retailer membership at Cascale shared, “I’m honored to join Cascale and work alongside such a dedicated team committed to driving collective action across the apparel and consumer goods industry. By equipping brands and retailers with the tools and resources needed to combat climate change and support decent work for all, we have an incredible opportunity to create meaningful change at scale. I’m eager to leverage my experience at two Cascale member brands to build robust, inclusive listening channels and partner effectively with our members on this crucial journey toward a more sustainable future.”
ABOUT CASCALE
Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.
Cascale’s membership requirements are driving accountability, alignment, and measurable impact across the global consumer goods industry.
At Cascale, we believe that meaningful progress toward sustainability is only possible when organizations align around shared goals and take collective action. That’s why, in 2021, we introduced our membership requirements. These guidelines are designed to unite our global members across brands, retailers, manufacturers, and affiliates – to address the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Three years later, we’re proud to share how membership requirements are laying the foundations for impactful change. While they are not the sole driver of progress, they serve as a critical reminder of the importance in aligning efforts, measuring impact, and creating accountability. The progress we’ve made together is proof that collective action is not just possible — it’s powerful.
Since 2021, Cascale’s membership requirements have complemented industry ambitions, providing a unified framework to build consistency across the consumer goods industry and its supply chain. Actions that support reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving labor practices are required. This is critical to align with Cascale’s mission of transforming the global consumer goods industry into one that gives back more than it takes to people and the planet.
This shared commitment has helped our members deliver significant milestones:
Change is easy with Cascale membership requirements.
Sustainability is a journey, and every member is at a different stage. While we celebrate these achievements, we also recognize that progress comes with challenges. That’s why Cascale focuses on supporting our members every step of the way:
In 2025, Cascale will focus on simplifying reporting processes, advancing supply chain transparency, and reinforcing alignment with strategic impact goals. Initiatives like supplier data disclosure through the Open Supply Hub will further empower members of all sizes to lead with accountability and innovation.
The membership requirements framework represents more than a set of expectations. It reflects a shared commitment to building a better future for the consumer goods industry. Together, our members are showing what’s possible when we align around common goals and take collective action.
There’s still work to be done, but the progress we’ve made together inspires confidence in what lies ahead. Cascale remains dedicated to empowering our members to lead the way — because when we work together, we can create lasting change for both people and the planet.
To our members, thank you for being a part of this journey. To meet our members, visit our members page. For more information about Cascale membership and progress, explore membership here.
Cascale’s senior director of communications, Lee Green, reflects on a season of change and progress.
Cascale’s senior director of communications, Lee Green, reflects on a season of change and progress.
As we head into the final weeks of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the role of communications in supporting our commitment to equity and balance across a diverse membership. We’re a multi-stakeholder initiative in every sense of the word, bringing together manufacturers, brands, and experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in sustainability. But in doing this, it’s essential that everyone feels their voice is genuinely heard, valued, and acted upon—a goal that can sometimes feel like an ambitious juggling act. And, as any juggler will tell you, sometimes you are going to drop a ball.
That’s why we’re making moves to keep this balance steady and sustainable. Recently, we made two significant updates that I believe bring us closer to achieving this vision. First, the annual update to our Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) aims to simplify and improve sustainability reporting for manufacturing facilities. Alongside this, we’re also making meaningful improvements to Higg FEM governance, ensuring that members have an even clearer and more active role in shaping the future of the tool. By refining the Higg FEM, we’re not only helping members generate more accurate environmental data, but we’re also cutting down on repetitive reporting processes that, frankly, can wear on anyone’s patience. Manufacturers especially have been asking for more efficient, impactful ways to report their data, and these updates are a step in that direction.
The second shift is our new membership engagement model, which has been designed with one purpose in mind: to ensure equitable representation. Our members are the driving force behind every initiative we undertake, and ensuring that their needs and perspectives shape our work is non-negotiable. This model lets us cater to different member types, making sure that no one feels left out or underrepresented in key conversations. As a showcase of this deepening motivation, we are exploring more diverse perspectives across our platforms. This includes the recent, “A Manufacturer’s Perspective: Busana Group’s CEO Sunil Shewakramani,” as part of a new manufacturer-led blog series. As you’ll see, it’s about breaking down barriers and making our processes more inclusive which is a shared passion across our organization. Our executive team exemplifies this passion, with both our CEO and EVP having both spent more than a month in Asia in the second half of the year, meeting with and listening to manufacturers.
Decarbonization is another cornerstone of our approach, and it’s an area where Cascale has committed to bold, industry-wide action. Our Industry Decarbonization Roadmap is guiding our members on a path to measurable, science-based targets that will align with 2025 goals. In fact, next week, our teams will be meeting in Hong Kong to map out this year’s progress and set an ambitious 2025 roadmap.
Looking ahead to our two main events next year in Asia, I’m especially excited about bringing our community together to share insights and discuss these updates in person. Hosting these gatherings in a region so integral to global manufacturing feels right, especially as we refine our tools, governance, and engagement processes. There’s nothing quite like face-to-face conversations to deepen understanding and build trust, and I can’t wait to connect directly with the people who make Cascale’s work possible.
Communications plays a vital role in this journey—not just as a function but as a bridge. By keeping our members informed, inviting their feedback, and, most importantly, listening, we’re creating a foundation for the kind of equitable and balanced collaboration that will carry us into the future. It’s my job to ensure that our stakeholders know exactly where we’re headed and feel confident in the role they play in that journey. Here’s to an exciting year of growth, together.
Andrew Martin, executive vice president, Cascale participated in the inaugural global apparel factory summit hosted by Avery Dennison, a Cascale member at the forefront of sustainability and innovation.
Avery Dennison is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company that provides a wide range of branding and information solutions that optimize labor and supply chain efficiency, reduce waste, advance sustainability, circularity and transparency, and better connect brands and consumers. The event took place in Singapore in September and attendees included a select group of owners and CEOs of manufacturing facilities in Asia and Europe. Presentations and discussions centered around challenges in the supply chain, from traceability to circularity.
In a fireside chat, Martin began by sharing the main purpose of his attendance: to listen to the concerns and challenges of manufacturers—voices that need greater attention, especially in the context of traceability—and to explore how Cascale, in its role as a convener of the entire value chain, can support them. He examined how the supply chain must work together to unlock transparency and traceability. Both referenced data from Cascale’s Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) tool, which is exclusively available on Worldly. The Higg FEM is a transformative tool used to assess the environmental impact of product manufacturing at facilities, from water use to waste management, to chemical and energy use.
Martin’s presentation was especially relevant to attendees in showcasing how transformative Higg FEM data is for advancing facility improvements while reducing redundancy. He emphasized the value of the Higg Index tools in offering standardized approaches and highlighted Cascale’s crucial role in reducing duplication, increasing harmonization, and ensuring consistency, particularly in the context of data collection for traceability in response to upcoming regulations. Additional speakers included Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), among others.
Martin also shared learnings from Cascale members, noting that since much of the, legislation, —such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting & Due Diligence Directives (CSRD & CSDDD), Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and Digital Product Passport (DPP), and the US’s Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA),—are still pending further clarification, and even aligned implementation, the focus of ESG data collection processes is still being focused just on compliance with specific data points. He emphasized however that the importance of the industry shifting towards traceability, that enables more effective due diligence, risk identification, and opportunities for and verification of ESG progress.
Martin emphasized the importance of making sustainability information transparent at the site level, a core component of traceability, defined as “the process of creating visibility of materials, products, and the information in which they were produced through the supply chain, to ensure the accountability of environmental and social progress.” He characterized the burden that traceability places on manufacturers as “irrational” and called for rapid collaboration on pragmatic interventions to harmonize the ESG data reporting landscape, standardizing supply chain data points, align data collection templates and questionnaires, and harmonizing data requests and verification cycles.
He also mentioned initiatives like Cascale’s decarbonization programs, including the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), inviting attendees to consider their involvement.
Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, is introducing a new member engagement and governance model to ensure more inclusive decision-making, with a sharper focus on elevating supplier and manufacturer input.
This shift, reflected in the organization’s structure and membership team architecture, addresses the need for more equitable representation across the supply chain and reinforces Cascale’s commitment to transparency and accountability in tool development and industry standards. By better balancing the influence of brands and suppliers, Cascale aims to foster industry-wide collaboration and build stronger, more equitable partnerships across the consumer goods industry.
As a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI) nonprofit organization, Cascale’s mission serves the entire value chain without bias, ensuring equity and accessibility for all. With this in mind, the organization will continue to strive to balance the needs and voices of a diverse range of stakeholders – from large to small companies, manufacturers, brands, and NGOs – who work together to shape the future of the organization and achieve shared goals for the consumer goods industry.
In response to this feedback and ongoing conversations, Cascale has both restructured its membership team, shifting from a regional focus to one based on member type, and will be implementing new governance processes. These changes are designed to better serve manufacturer and brand/retailer members while affiliate members remain engaged through the stakeholder engagement team. All members can expect more tailored support and opportunities, through new structured processes to enable deeper collaboration as the transition progresses.
“With this new member engagement structure, our goal is to build a more inclusive representative and impactful system, ensuring that all voices, especially manufacturers, are heard and engaged meaningfully in all areas of our work, including the ongoing evolution of the Higg Index, and development of collective action programs,” said Andrew Martin, executive vice president at Cascale. “By focusing on equitable partnerships and streamlining processes, Cascale is strengthening its commitment to transparency, accountability, and industry convergence. These changes will allow us to better serve our members, support regulatory compliance, and drive impactful sustainability outcomes across the entire value chain.”
Cascale’s membership engagement teams, in particular, have been instrumental in advocating for this structural change. They have worked diligently to seek out and elevate feedback from members, especially manufacturers, ensuring that their needs are better reflected in decision-making processes. Their efforts have helped bring forward a more inclusive approach that will improve representation for manufacturers and elevate their role in shaping Cascale’s tools and initiatives.
Reflected in recruitment for membership team members, including the new role of Senior Manager, Membership Governance, Cascale’s evolved structure enables deeper collaboration, addressing feedback from suppliers who have called for more practical support and engagement. It strengthens Cascale’s commitment to collective action and underscores the organization’s ongoing reflection and adaptability. The new structure also aligns with recommendations from researcher Ilishio Lovejoy. Cascale supported Lovejoy’s two-year study on MSIs by granting her access to materials and facilitating interviews with staff and stakeholders. She presented her case study at Cascale’s recent Annual Meeting in Munich; there, she also joined a panel that included board members representative of the organization’s three sectors, to discuss the theory of fair process.
“It was an absolute pleasure to present my research on collective action tensions at Cascale and explore how fair process can be a valuable mechanism to examine and reduce the structural, functional, and emotional tensions within this multi-stakeholder initiative,” Lovejoy stated, after the event. “I’d also like to thank Colin Browne and the Cascale board for inviting me to present and showing openness to have honest and difficult conversations in the pursuit of better collective action.”
Cascale remains committed to supporting the manufacturing sector, which is vital to achieving shared collective action goals. The organization recently announced positive impacts of its Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), a pivotal initiative that unites manufacturers worldwide to combat climate change and welcomes Cascale members and non-members alike. In September, Cascale also announced a collaboration with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) aimed at promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices within the apparel sector in this critical region.
Supplier input continues to be a priority as Cascale evolves its Higg Index tools—used by 40,000 companies and exclusively available on Worldly. Each year, the tools are updated to respond to the needs and priorities of its members. These updates ensure the tools deliver the most accurate data to help drive sustainable business decisions and further support compliance on current and emerging reporting obligations. In Q4 2024, updates to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI) and Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) will incorporate member and stakeholder feedback.
Updated in October, the Higg MSI, a cradle-to-gate environmental assessment tool for materials, reflects three years of industry-wide collaboration on a cotton-specific methodology and model, setting a new standard for consistency and reliability in fiber-specific data. In November, the Higg FEM update will also build on deep collaborative work; in 2023, the last major Higg FEM update incorporated input from over 140 experts, with manufacturers being the largest represented group.
Together, Cascale’s stakeholders are united to accelerate climate action and catalyze impact at scale through a unified approach to sustainability that drives meaningful change.
Cascale, formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, is thrilled to announce the addition of three new members in the second quarter of 2024. Committed to driving collective action towards a more sustainable, equitable, and restorative consumer goods industry, Cascale represents over 300 organizations worldwide. The organization’s membership spans various sectors, including apparel, footwear, textiles, home furnishings, outdoor sporting goods, and bags and luggage.
Please join us in welcoming Cascale’s new members of Q2 2024
Through Cascale membership, organizations across the consumer goods value chain gain access to the Higg Index, impactful collective action programs, member-exclusive training and events, and a thriving network of industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability advocates.
Be part of a global alliance committed to a sustainable future. Together, members can drive impactful change in the consumer goods industry. Click here to explore Cascale membership.
