Blogs / Sustainable Textile Policy Landscape, Legislation to Watch in 2026

Sustainable Textile Policy Landscape, Legislation to Watch in 2026

Policy and Legislation

Cascale’s Elisabeth von Reitzenstein and Textile Exchange’s Romane Malysza presented priorities for the Sustainable Textiles Working Group at the European Parliament.

February 17, 2026

European textile policy has been dotted with fragmented efforts amid sweeping reform attempts. Yet, progress is happening in strides.

To promote and advance circularity and sustainability in textiles and consumer goods, the European Parliament launched the Sustainable Textile Working Group last year. The group comprises about 30 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including founding members Saskia Bricmont (Greens, BE), Barry Andrews (Renew, IE), and Lara Wolters (S&D, NL). It also includes civil society groups such as the Changing Markets Foundation, Fair Trade Advocacy Office, ECOS, IndustriAll Europe, and Fashion Revolution. The informal cross-party group of MEPs is working to support the implementation of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.

Recently, Cascale and Textile Exchange presented our work and key findings to the group in a structured dialogue at the European Parliament. Collaborating often, both of our public affairs teams strive to inform EU policy-making on sustainability, circularity, and environmental frameworks for the entire apparel, textile, and fashion industry.

For the benefit of the public and members, we outlined targeted actions needed today to establish European legislation as a key driver of clarity, credibility, and measurable progress in our sector in 2026 and beyond.

Textile Labelling Regulation: Consistency Builds Trust

Cascale and Textile Exchange welcome and strongly support the EU Commission’s intention to revise the EU Textile Labelling Regulation.

Clear, consistent labelling is essential for credible sustainability claims. Divergent methodologies risk confusing consumers, slowing innovation, and increasing compliance costs.

Aligning labelling with science-based methods and clear terminology strengthens trust, supports novel fiber adoption, and gives companies predictable rules for long-term investment.

Recent years have seen a rapid advancement of non-textile materials of non-animal origin used in textile applications. These materials have often been seen as alternatives to conventional animal fibers, such as silk or fur. There is currently no clear guidance on how such materials should be classified and labelled. We believe this gap should be closed and recommend the creation of a distinct category for these materials and to provide a set of clear guidelines on how to name the alternatives. Without it, consumers risk being misled on fiber innovations.

Next Steps: Support alignment with science-based methodologies, establish clear terminology, and create common naming guidelines. This is especially relevant for alternative materials such as non-textile parts of non-animal original, as well as industry testing and feedback loops.

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: From Ambition to Coherence

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport (DPP) can transform sustainability data in textiles. Feasible recycled content targets and interoperable digital systems can increase transparency, reduce duplication, and enable SME participation.

Next Steps: Support requirements for “sustainably sourced renewable materials” (SSRM) as a distinct product aspect for ecodesign requirements in the Delegated Act for Textile Apparel. This will complement upcoming recycled content requirements, and support truly sustainable textile products entering the EU market.

Circular Economy Act: Laying Foundations for Delivery

Circularity needs strong definitions, end-of-waste criteria, and predictable secondary markets. Clear alignment across the Waste Framework Directive, ESPR, and DPP gives companies confidence to invest in circular solutions. Exploring sustainably-sourced renewable materials (SSRM) and recycled content targets are also key here.

Next Steps: Textiles must remain a priority within the Circular Economy Act, reflecting both the sector’s environmental impact and its transformation potential. Textile industry stakeholders and MEPs can support workshops, hearings, and technical briefings on how circularity is a core driver to the industry’s ongoing transformation.

Omnibus I (CSRD & CSDDD): Supporting SMEs While Preserving Visibility

Changes to reporting requirements could create upstream data gaps if applied too restrictively. A pragmatic approach — including clear guidance and meaningful Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standards for non-listed Small and Medium Enterprises (VSME) baselines — can ensure smaller companies are supported while maintaining multi-tier value chain visibility.

Next Steps: MEPs can secure clarity for economic operators and drive credible environmental and due diligence outcomes through engagement in the legislative process. As a note, Textile Exchange does not engage in the legislative process of the Omnibus I.

For continued guidance and information, please subscribe to public affairs updates from Cascale and Textile Exchange.

Press Releases / Impact of Global Water Regulation on the Consumer Goods Industry

Impact of Global Water Regulation on the Consumer Goods Industry

Policy and Legislation

Joint Cascale-Worldly policy analysis highlights rising regulatory pressure, regional risks, and practical actions for companies navigating water scarcity.

river in the mountains, top view of the mountain river, autumn

February 04, 2026

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – February 4, 2026: Cascale and Worldly today released Navigating Global Water Regulation: Implications for the Textile and Consumer Goods Sector, examining how intensifying water scarcity and tightening regulation are reshaping the operating environment for the apparel, textile, and wider consumer goods sector.

The analysis maps evolving water policy across key production regions in Asia, the European Union, and the United States. It connects regulatory developments to operational, financial, and reputational risks, and outlines how companies can strengthen resilience as water becomes a strategic business concern alongside climate and supply chain due diligence.

With the global apparel and textile industry consuming an estimated 93 billion cubic meters of water annually and contributing roughly 20 percent of global industrial wastewater, water regulation is accelerating in regions already facing acute stress. Governments are responding with stricter controls on water use, wastewater discharge, and pollution, particularly in major manufacturing hubs.

The report highlights significant regulatory momentum in China and Vietnam, continued but uneven enforcement across other Asian production countries, expanding disclosure requirements in the European Union, and regulatory uncertainty in the United States. Together, these trends underscore the need for companies to elevate water risk from a site-level issue to a governance and strategy priority.

“Preserving our planet’s freshwater supplies is a top priority — water is life. Across the globe, legislators are responding by introducing new regulations, and water is quickly becoming a defining constraint on how and where the industry can operate,” said Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, senior director of policy and public affairs at Cascale. “This analysis is designed to help companies move beyond reacting to individual laws and instead understand the bigger picture. When water risk is integrated into sourcing, governance, and performance management, it becomes possible to protect both business continuity and local communities.”

The report also outlines practical actions companies can take now, including mapping facilities in water-stressed basins, validating wastewater compliance, strengthening supplier data collection, and embedding water considerations into sourcing and contingency planning. These steps are increasingly critical as regulation shifts from focusing on efficiency alone toward source sustainability and foundational environmental performance.

“Water policy provides essential direction for where supply chain action matters most,” said JR Siegel, vice president of sustainability at Worldly. “Leading companies rely on Worldly’s standardized, decision-grade data to prioritize action at the facility level—strengthening risk management, investment decisions, and supply chain resilience ahead of disruption.”

Key Takeaways

Water regulation is accelerating globally. Governments are strengthening controls on water use, wastewater discharge, and pollution, particularly in water-stressed production regions.
Risk exposure is uneven but growing. Major apparel and textile hubs in Asia face tightening regulation and enforcement, while EU disclosure requirements expand and U.S. policy remains uncertain.
Water is now a strategic business issue. Companies are moving from treating water as a site-level concern to integrating it into governance, sourcing, and risk management decisions.
Data and standardization matter. Visibility into water use, wastewater management, and basin-level risk is essential to manage compliance, protect operations, and maintain credibility.
Early action builds resilience. Companies that invest now in efficient, compliant, and transparent water management are better positioned as scarcity and regulation intensify.

The publication reflects Cascale and Worldly’s shared commitment to supporting the industry with credible, actionable insight. Cascale’s Higg Index tools, developed in collaboration with Worldly, in addition to Worldly’s comprehensive data and analytics platform, help connect evolving regulation to measurable performance improvement at scale.

As water scarcity intensifies and enforcement strengthens across regions, the report concludes that the cost of inaction — from production disruptions to reputational damage — is likely to exceed the investment required today. Proactive, verifiable water management is increasingly a strategic imperative for long-term resilience in the consumer goods industry.

Download the Report

News Updates / Cascale PEFCR Tour Adds Stops in Munich, Milan, Amsterdam

Cascale PEFCR Tour Adds Stops in Munich, Milan, Amsterdam

Policy and Legislation

At Munich and Amsterdam events, Cascale’s Elisabeth von Reitzenstein and Quinten Geleijnse highlight PEFCR as an industry milestone.

December 04, 2025

Last month, Cascale participated in the Munich and Amsterdam launch events of the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear.

Milan was another stop on the multi-city roadshow for the PEFCR.

The Munich event, hosted at BCG headquarters and facilitated by Quantis and 2BPolicy, gathered PEFCR experts, brands, retailers, and other industry peers for an afternoon of technical discussion, a panel on applying and scaling the PEFCR, and networking.

Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, senior director of policy and public affairs at Cascale, delivered co-opening remarks that outlined the significance of the PEFCR. Reflecting on her nearly two decades in policy decision-making procedures and public affairs, she offered ample lessons in sustainability legislation. From synthesizing various member interests and engaging constantly with policymakers in Brussels, von Reitzenstein shared that one lesson stands above all else: the need for collaboration and harmonization. She underscored how PEFCR delivers on this unifying vision, bridging science, policy, and industry together around one credible, harmonized approach. Sophie Herrmann, managing director, Germany, at Quantis, spoke after von Reitzenstein’s presentation.

At a separate event in Amsterdam, Cascale’s Quinten Geleijnse, manager of Higg Product Tools LCA, spoke on a panel relaying the technical details of the category rules.

The events follow sessions held in Brussels, London, and Paris, and is part of an ongoing series of PEF events across Europe – including a recent event in Milan and one in Madrid early next year – aimed at advancing awareness, technical understanding, and discussing future development of the methodology.

As with previous events, von Reitzenstein and Geleijnse emphasized the role of Cascale as coordinator of the PEFCR technical secretariat and its significance to the industry. The PERCR lays the groundwork for a harmonized and scientifically rigorous methodology for calculating product environmental impacts, enabling transparent and consistent information to be shared to consumers and market authorities.

In their respective sessions, attendees — including government officials, Cascale members, Policy Hub staff, NGOs, affiliates, and more — were encouraged to engage with the PEFCR, apply it, test it, and continue driving progress in the industry.

Learn more about Cascale’s work on the Apparel & Footwear PEFCR here.

News Updates / Cascale At STAR Meeting, Asia-Pacific Sports, Outdoor Forum

Cascale At STAR Meeting, Asia-Pacific Sports, Outdoor Forum

Industry Event
Decarbonization
Policy and Legislation

Cascale centers decarbonization, policy leadership at STAR Annual Meeting in China and Asia-Pacific Sports and Outdoor Fashion Forum in Singapore.

Howard Kwong presenting APAC country report

November 27, 2025

Cascale played a leading role at the recent Asia-Pacific Sports and Outdoor Fashion Forum in Singapore and the Sustainable Textiles of the Asian Region (STAR) Annual Meeting in China, highlighting vast collaboration opportunities in decarbonization and policymaking.

At the 2025 STAR Annual Meeting in Humen, Guangdong Province, China, policy and industry leaders from across Asia’s textile and apparel sector convened to exchange best practices. Howard Kwong, senior manager, public affairs APAC, was invited by STAR to join a peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange session to present Cascale’s global policy and public affairs strategy.

In his remarks, Kwong outlined how Cascale works to advance smart, globally harmonized policy that enables credible sustainability action, while equipping members with the tools, data, and guidance they need to navigate fast-evolving regulation. He highlighted recent insights from the Manufacturer Interview Group — a project co-led by Cascale and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) — as well as Cascale’s APAC policy deep dive on corporate supply chain responsibility trends and the newly-established APAC Policy Member Expert Team (MET). Sovichea Saron, STAR’s head of secretariat, is a MET member, reflecting how manufacturer perspectives are integrated into Cascale’s global public affairs work.

Meaningful engagement was key. Throughout the event, Kwong met with the STAR board members and association leaders from China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar to explore deeper collaboration.

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In a separate event at the Asia-Pacific Outdoor & Sports Fashion Forum, Joyce Tsoi, Cascale’s senior director, decarbonization program, gave a virtual keynote presentation on the decarbonization and collaboration potential in the outdoor and sporting goods supply chain.

This event is part of the wider programming under the Asia-Pacific Textile & Supply Chain Summit & Expo (APTEXPO). Representing an extensive collaboration, the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) and the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) jointly sponsored the event, with ECV International, and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT TEX) as co-organizers. The Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) also supported as a host association. Speakers joined from across Cascale’s membership, among them Mammut Sports Group AG, Puma, and New Balance.

Based in London and joining remotely, Tsoi’s virtual opening remarks began with a playful connection between an individual’s fitness commitments and a company’s decarbonization targets – pointing out that both require diligence, consistency, and commitment to succeed. Then she highlighted the top three systematic industry challenges that stop us from moving at the pace and scale necessary to combat climate change. The first was stalled engagement of Tier 2 materials production facilities, followed by few commitments from brands and retailers. This ultimately creates a lack of true business partnership. With that, Tsoi underscored the need for brands and manufacturers to have shared goals, vision, and responsibilities.

Her presentation then moved into hard-hitting industry carbon emission data, infused with actionable and regional insights from the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). Her final points offered a hopeful resolution, highlighting the successes of manufacturers, reflecting eight sponsoring brands, that were achieved through participating in Cascale’s Manufacturers Climate Action Program (MCAP): To date, MCAP has engaged 85 manufacturers in 19 countries with a collective CO2 reduction potential of over 1,429,087 tCO2e from 38 validated participants. She ended with a call for collaboration, highlighting Cascale’s membership, including the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and the European Outdoor Group (EOG).

What if the Real Leverage Point for Sustainability isn’t the Brand, it’s the Factory?

Manufacturing
Leadership
Policy and Legislation

Explore how factory leaders are driving real sustainability progress through data, innovation, and collaboration in Lee Green’s latest blog.

A close-up of a sewist at her sewing machine.

Lee Green

November 24, 2025

Our industry often leads with brand leadership, but the real transformation is happening where few cameras point: the factory floor.

While regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) push companies toward accountability and disclosure, the real test is how those mandates ripple through global supply chains, and how factories respond.

Across sourcing regions like China, and APAC more broadly, a quiet revolution is taking place. In a series of country reports – spanning Bangladesh, Vietnam, and most recently China – we examined the role of factories in ushering in a greener economy. Factories are investing in renewables, adopting circular design principles, and harnessing digital tools to optimize energy and resource use. These are not incremental changes, they’re innovative shifts in mindset. Factories, and the people that empower them, are starting to see sustainability not as a compliance cost, but as a competitive advantage.

Factories, a Data-Rich Story Engine

Factory leaders are proving that innovation and impact can coexist at the very heart of production. In our travelogues among other methods, we’ve documented global real-life examples of this innovation, visiting manufacturers such as Artistic Milliners and Diamond Fabrics (part of the Sapphire Group) — both respective leaders in their field.

This is just scratching the surface.

After more than two decades in communications, one truth stands out: brands cannot lead alone. Systems, standards, and shared metrics matter more than slogans. The real power lies in collective frameworks (the very essence of the Higg Index) that enable transparency, comparability, and trust. They give manufacturers and brands a common language for progress, and a way to prove that progress is real.

And this is where storytelling matters. Because the data tells us what’s changing, but the story tells us why it matters. Translating measurement into meaning is how we move audiences, shift perception, and inspire action. The challenge for communicators today isn’t just to celebrate impact, but to frame it in a way that’s credible, grounded, and human. And in the crosshairs of AI, this couldn’t be more important.

A Collective Role to Play

At Cascale, we’re working to bridge that gap, and this recognition of the manufacturer’s role is the foundation for the upcoming Cascale Forum: Colombo, an event built on collaboration and leadership in driving sustainability progress: connecting measurement with meaning, ensuring that data becomes a catalyst for transformation, not just a line in a report. Because when manufacturers lead and brands listen, the industry moves faster, further, and with more integrity.

So the next time someone asks where the future of sustainability lies, don’t just point to the latest brand campaign. Point to the place where ambition meets action – the factory floor. If you are a brand marketer or sustainability practitioner, it’s your responsibility to tell the whole story.

And if you are a manufacturer looking to craft genuine narratives that go beyond the green hype, we invite you to share your challenges openly and elevate your successes (by way of case studies or interviews on Source of Good). In every convening point, we will continue to ensure your voice is central to the conversation.

Have a story to share? Reach out.

Blogs / It’s Not Over: Members Must Uphold Ambition as EU Corporate Sustainability Legislation Backslides

It’s Not Over: Members Must Uphold Ambition as EU Corporate Sustainability Legislation Backslides

Policy and Legislation

The European Union was the outspoken advocate for corporate sustainability legislation. What happened? Cascale members must move forward.

Elisabeth von Reitzenstein

November 20, 2025

The feeling many of us in public affairs have right now is that it’s pretty much over.

Yes, trialogue negotiations between the European Commission, Parliament, and Council are yet to kick off, but with the positions of all institutions on the table, the baseline for compromise is set incredibly low.

Despite eager leadership to date, the European co-legislators walked away from their chance to welcome clear, ambitious guardrails for corporate sustainability. Recent developments surrounding the European Commission’s “Omnibus I” proposal to revise EU corporate sustainability legislation have revealed both the complexity and fragility of progress in this space. As Cascale noted for JustStyle, Sourcing Journal, and EcoTextile News, the stakes could not be higher for companies, investors, workers, and communities worldwide. This urgency doesn’t change for industry leaders, and the clock doesn’t stop on the climate crisis.

Yet these developments did not come in a vacuum.

Cascale, our members, and ecosystem peers have been following the Omnibus process closely with critical engagement throughout. In July 2025, we hosted a member-exclusive EU Omnibus briefing webinar in collaboration with Policy Hub, equipping members with expert insights on the simplification packages and their implications for the apparel and footwear sector. In February and most recently in September 2025, we co-signed joint statements with other industry associations calling on EU institutions to ensure that the Omnibus package strengthens – rather than weakens – corporate sustainability and due diligence, maintaining alignment with international standards and a risk-based approach.

In October, the European Parliament voted to reject the Legal Affairs Committee’s (JURI) negotiating mandate on the Omnibus package, effectively halting inter-institutional negotiations at that stage.

Why European Negotiations Fell Flat

The plenary session on November 13 offered further revelations, with the European Parliament now adopting a right-leaning compromise on the Omnibus I proposal by 382 votes to 249, with 13 abstentions. The final text passed with the support of the European People’s Party (EPP), far-right groups (European Conservatives and Reformists, Patriots for Europe, Europe of Sovereign Nations), and parts of the centrist group Renew. This marks one of the most significant political defeats for the original deal-maker, Ursula von der Leyen’s majority (EPP-S&D-Renew-Greens).

The adopted position introduces a substantially deregulatory framework, raising thresholds under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), removing climate-transition obligations under CSDDD, and dismantling the EU-wide civil liability regime, changes that go beyond the Commission’s February proposal.

It’s Not Over: Cascale Keeps the Faith

Cascale and our members are not neutral observers. We have strong, sustained expectations for EU policy: a simplified framework, sure, but one that remains ambitious, enforceable, and fit for purpose. This makes the current results from European policy negotiations all the more frustrating. Yet this is the nature of sustainability work – to keep pressing forward amid challenging conclusions.

Trilogue negotiations were scheduled to start on November 18, 2025. The outcome of the vote represents a decisive victory for the EPP, and now the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, and the Commission are quite aligned on their unflinching stance. Our team will now seek some technical clarification on certain points from policy makers, but the lack of ambition on scope is a done deal. We will continue to relay additional updates to our members, but the greater message stands.

In the face of this disappointing vote, our public affairs team urges Cascale members to stand firm on green ambition. Though these weeks have revealed a backsliding stance for European policy makers, dilution of principles underlying the CSDD and CSRD, and greater unknowns for the state of global policy, that same fate doesn’t have to follow for consumer goods corporations.

Cascale members must choose: uphold ambition and maintain the integrity of their sustainability stances, or risk undermining the very foundations of responsible business for generations to come.

Blogs / Cascale, Policy Hub In Brussels: Unified Voice in Sustainability

Cascale, Policy Hub In Brussels: Unified Voice in Sustainability

Policy and Legislation

Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, Cascale’s Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs, highlights how Cascale and Policy Hub are partnering to shape the rules of the game in Brussels.

Photo of building in Brussels with national flags

Elisabeth von Reitzenstein

October 10, 2025

As sustainability regulation accelerates, Cascale’s members face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Legislative frameworks are advancing faster than voluntary action, which means it is critical that Cascale’s Higg Index tools are aligned with evolving requirements and continue to serve as effective pathways to support compliance.

Our members expect more than just tools: they expect foresight, influence, and support in navigating new obligations. Our manufacturer members, in particular, need support in interpreting complex regulations into practical guidance and in ensuring their perspectives are well represented.

Cascale advances policy influence, alignment, and education through two complementary channels: The Cascale Public Affairs function and collaboration with the Policy Hub, a unique Brussels-based coalition for the textile sector. Cascale co-founded the Policy Hub in 2019 to help the textile sector speak with one strong, unified voice and to ensure that all stakeholders have an equal say in shaping ambitious yet practical EU legislation.

Today, Cascale continues to play a key role by bringing insights from the Higg Index tools and its global network of members into the Policy Hub’s discussions, bridging practical experience with policy action. By working together through these two channels, we give members a holistic view of global legislation and contribute to the mission of ensuring a stronger, more unified voice of the textile sector in Brussels and globally.

Cascale holds a unique position to shape industry practices, influence regulation, and provide members with effective tools to support their compliance obligations via the Higg Index, the most widely used standardized measurement framework within the apparel and footwear industry, developed and owned by Cascale and exclusively licensed to Worldly. Cascale is actively working to maximize compliance by aligning the Higg Index and other Cascale methodologies with global legislation. To continuously improve the relevance of the Higg Index, Cascale contributes to Policy Hub’s workstreams and position papers, ultimately providing greater clarity and simplification for members.

In Brussels, Cascale leverages the Policy Hub as its primary advocacy channel. The Policy Hub leads the sector-wide dialogue to build consensus across the entire textile value chain on EU policy priorities, while also engaging directly with policymakers on the technical details needed to make legislation both ambitious and implementable. Through its workstreams and position papers, Policy Hub provides collective credibility and efficiency, ensuring that its members, including Cascale, are meaningfully represented in EU discussions, avoiding duplication via advocacy for standardized industry tools, and amplifying their impact.

This collaboration allows Cascale to combine its technical and global leadership with Policy Hub’s Brussels-based mandate, ensuring members have both the tools and the policy engagement necessary to thrive in a fast-changing environment.

Over the next few months, we will keep the industry informed about how we are working to influence forthcoming EU legislation and highlight ways in which Cascale members can get involved in shaping the regulatory environment of the future.

Also, look out for more content from me and the team on how Cascale is supporting members globally to understand better the global policy landscape and what it means for them specifically.

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.

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News Updates / Cascale Opens London Launch Event of EU PEFCR Apparel & Footwear

Cascale Opens London Launch Event of EU PEFCR Apparel & Footwear

Policy and Legislation

Cascale shares progress and next steps for the Apparel & Footwear Product Environmental Footprint methodology.

Lee Green speaking at the PEF Apparel Footwear event in London

September 29, 2025

As coordinator of the Technical Secretariat, Cascale highlights progress and next steps for the Apparel & Footwear Product Environmental Footprint methodology.

On September 25, 2025, Cascale participated in the official London launch event for the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear. The event brought together Cascale members, NGOs, technical experts, and stakeholders from across the value chain to explore the significance of the newly approved methodology for environmental impact assessment.

Held at The Mills Fabrica and facilitated by WRAP and 2BPolicy, the event featured panel discussions and presentations designed to raise awareness and support adoption of the methodology. The London event is the first in a series of launch events planned across Europe, following the formal launch of the PEFCR held in Brussels in June 2025. Additional events are expected in Paris, Milan, Munich, and Amsterdam.

Opening remarks were delivered by Lee Green, vice president of marketing & communications at Cascale, who reflected on the five-year collaborative effort behind the development of the PEFCR. He emphasized the importance of harmonization, scientific integrity, and collective action in responding to growing sustainability expectations and regulatory demands across the industry. His comments emphasized the potential for the PEFCR to move beyond a technical framework and become a catalyst for broader transformation, offering businesses and civil society a shared foundation to measure, compare, and reduce product-level impacts.

As coordinator of the Technical Secretariat since 2019, Cascale has played a central role in guiding the multi-stakeholder process that led to the development of the methodology. The organization continues to champion science-based, standardized approaches to sustainability measurement and their alignment with evolving EU policy.

Two panel discussions dug into both the strengths of the PEFCR and areas where it can be further improved. They also considered its role in supporting the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and new anti-greenwashing rules. Dedicated time for audience questions allowed participants to clarify what the PEFCR means in practice.

Cascale’s participation reflects its continued leadership in advancing tools and frameworks that enable data-driven environmental progress across the apparel and footwear value chain.

Learn more about Cascale’s work on the Apparel & Footwear PEFCR here.

News Updates / Cascale Joins Call for Strengthened Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence in EU Omnibus Package

Cascale Joins Call for Strengthened Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence in EU Omnibus Package

Collective Action
Policy and Legislation

Joint statement demonstrates industry solidarity to advance an ambitious, risk-based EU framework

September 25, 2025

Cascale has co-signed a new joint statement urging the European Union to ensure that the Omnibus I Package advances responsible business conduct in global supply chains.

This action follows a joint statement issued in March 2025, which called to protect corporate due diligence in response to the EU Omnibus proposal.

The current statement, signed by Cascale and amfori, the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Ethical Trade Norway, Ethical Trade Sweden, Fair Labor Association, Fair Wear Foundation, Green Button, and the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), calls on EU institutions to negotiate the simplification of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Director (CSRD) in a way that maintains alignment with international standards, including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and ILO Conventions.

Specifically, the signatories urge EU policymakers to:

Embed risk-based due diligence and reporting obligations so companies can focus on the most severe and likely risks to people and the environment, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Enable collaboration across supply chains to collect necessary data for effective due diligence, avoiding rigid caps that could hinder transparency, responsible business practices, and meaningful engagement.
Ensure legal certainty and policy stability, so that businesses can plan, invest, and act confidently with global partners.

Read the joint press release here.

Risk-based due diligence allows companies to prioritise the most severe risks, build resilient supply chains, and contribute meaningfully to the EU’s climate and social goals. Simplification of due diligence and reporting, the signatories stress, must not come at the expense of robust corporate sustainability standards or alignment with the UN Guiding Principles, OECD Guidelines, and key ILO Conventions. The group stands ready to support the EU institutions in delivering a framework that is ambitious, risk-based, and fit for purpose.