Cascale centers decarbonization, policy leadership at STAR Annual Meeting in China and Asia-Pacific Sports and Outdoor Fashion Forum in Singapore.
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.
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).
Explore how factory leaders are driving real sustainability progress through data, innovation, and collaboration in Lee Green’s latest blog.
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.
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.
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.
The European Union was the outspoken advocate for corporate sustainability legislation. What happened? Cascale members must move forward.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
At the Annual Meeting 2025, collaboration proved integral across all policy sessions.
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 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Cascale shares progress and next steps for the Apparel & Footwear Product Environmental Footprint methodology.
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.
Joint statement demonstrates industry solidarity to advance an ambitious, risk-based EU framework
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:
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.
Here, Andrew Martin EVP of Cascale divulges key takeaways from European policymakers and the topics from Cascale’s Brand & Retail Forum.
Faced with uncertainty in the regulatory environment and the wider industry and a climate crisis more certain than ever, the time for talking and delivering on collaboration, harmonization and policy (believe it or not) has never been more urgent.
Reflecting as I come to the end of the year, with the buzz of our recent Cascale Brand & Retail Forum and the Policy Hub Round tables, in Brussels still ringing in my ears, it gives me hope to to be able to say that I saw first-hand how spirited and excited people are about being a part of this change. At our event – which drew together brands, retailers, manufacturers, supply chain partners, stakeholders, and of course, an impressive representation of policymakers – we discussed what really matters.
Inspired, yet also challenged, it is essential that we bridge unspoken divides, elevate key voices, and stand together as one industry – aligned. Here, I’ll walk you through a few of my insights, as well as what our Policy and Public Affairs team observed at our recent event.
First and foremost, alignment is key. The challenge to us from the policy makers couldn’t have been clearer. Alignment across the supply chain isn’t just beneficial — it’s essential for presenting a unified industry voice capable of ensuring evolving regulatory demands are meaningful and impactful.
At the EU level, the Policy Hub continues to serve as a pivotal platform for technical and detailed collaboration. It’s here that brands, manufacturers, NGOs, MSIs, and other stakeholders can influence policy decisions and advocate for a harmonized regulatory framework. This is a can’t-miss step to ensuring fair competition across the industry.
Quite a lot of our Higg Index users were in attendance at the event, and rightly so, as we discussed how the Higg Index is helping companies navigate regulatory requirements. It’s important to emphasize these tools are not static; they evolve alongside regulatory landscapes to support businesses on their compliance journeys.
But let’s be clear: there’s no such thing as a simple “tick-the-box” solution when it comes to compliance. Compliance requires active engagement from both brands and manufacturers. However, EU policies such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD) Directives act as a positive lever for change.
A recurring theme throughout the event was the value of knowledge and data. Transparent supply chains, meaningful and impactful human rights due diligence, and a deep understanding of product composition are now non-negotiable for ensuring both compliance and beyond. Colleagues such as Carolina van Loenen, Cascale’s director, stakeholder engagement, alongside Open Supply Hub’s stakeholder engagement director Hannah Lennett, and Fair Wear Foundation’s head of industry alignment, Lisa Süss, brought this to life in a hands-on workshop and dialogue with members and stakeholders. The European Commission was also strongly represented in the mix including DG GROW’s Dr. Amaryllis Verhoeven and António de Sousa Maia, DG FISMA’s CSR financial analyst Kate Frisby, DG Justice and Consumers’ Dan Dionisie, and DG Environment’s policy officer Carsten Wentink.
Another point worth championing is the importance of elevating the voice of manufacturers in legislative discussions. Their perspectives and expertise are vital to crafting regulations that are not only effective but also equitable across the entire supply chain. While we are pleased with a good showing in this respect with friends like Lenzing Group, Gore, Hidramani, and Sympatex in attendance, there is so much more we need to do here and Cascale is committed to doing just this.
Not to mention, we were able to get behind the scenes of policy-making with the “Immersive EU Experience.” This allowed us to tour the EU Parliament led by a European Parliament Representative. The tour provided invaluable insights into the legislative workings of the EU. We had the chance to discuss key legislative impacts on the consumer goods industry and made way for an open question-and-answer session with key policy makers as well as the Policy Hub and Cascale teams.
While I believe the event was a successful one, the work is not yet done. As the industry moves forward, the message is clear: collaboration, transparency, and proactive engagement are the ways forward. For those who missed it, I hope you will join us at future events and sign up for our Public Affairs and Policy newsletter.
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – December 10, 2024: Cascale announces the formation of its U.S. Policy Member Expert Team (MET), an advisory group of industry leaders and experts drawn from its membership community. Designed to reflect the voices of Cascale’s diverse membership, the MET is tasked with defining Cascale’s U.S. policy priorities and guiding the organization’s regional advocacy strategy. As the nation transitions into a new legislative cycle following the presidential election, the U.S. Policy MET will play a crucial role in shaping Cascale’s approach to addressing key challenges and opportunities for the textiles, apparel, and wider consumer goods sector.
“The United States has the world’s largest fashion market, with revenue exceeding $350 billion,” said Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka, director of sustainability, Komar Brands “The U.S. Policy MET, initiated by the fashion industry stakeholders, is critical to balancing the pressing need for sustainable development in the fashion industry with consistent growth. It ensures that products and services that enhance climate resilience, equitable partnerships, better livelihoods, and nature-positive impacts can move forward effectively without compromising environmental, social, and governance safeguards under strong U.S. policies that will impact the entire world.”
The U.S. Policy MET includes representatives from leading brands, retailers, manufacturers, and affiliates, reflecting Cascale’s commitment to member-focused and member-led advocacy.
“It’s a great honor to join the U.S. Policy MET as a manufacturer,” said Shein Han, director, compliance/sustainability from GG International Manufacturing Co. Ltd. “In Cascale, the ‘CA’ stands for collective action, and ‘scale’ references scaled ambitions. This MET embodies these principles, bringing together diverse perspectives to develop strategy and iron out the details during this pivotal legislative cycle. By amplifying the voice of manufacturers through a new member engagement structure and initiatives like this, Cascale strengthens its commitment to collective action. Together with all members participating in this MET, I’m excited to explore strategies, refine the details, and work toward achieving what we set out to do. Let’s capitalize on this momentum!”
The MET is led by Cascale’s Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, senior director of policy and public affairs, and Gabriele Ballero, public affairs manager, who will focus on harnessing member insights to shape Cascale’s U.S. Public Affairs Strategy. While the MET’s focus will be on delivering actionable insights and recommendations to strengthen Cascale’s influence in the U.S., it will not engage in active lobbying.
“This initiative demonstrates the strength of member collaboration in shaping Cascale’s advocacy efforts,” said von Reitzenstein. “The U.S. Policy MET reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring that our policy positions are firmly rooted in the insights, priorities, and shared expertise of our members. At this pivotal moment, their collective knowledge will enable us to advocate for policies that not only support industry growth but also drive meaningful innovation and sustainability. Together, we are building a unified and forward-thinking voice to address today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.”
The establishment of the U.S. Policy MET builds on Cascale’s commitment to region-specific advocacy. To date, Cascale’s public affairs efforts have primarily focused on EU policy, including its impactful collaboration with the Policy Hub to address critical issues within the EU. With the launch of the U.S. Policy MET, Cascale is taking a step forward in expanding its policy and public affairs focus to other regions. In the release of the 2024 Policy Priorities in April 2024, Cascale outlined plans for collaborative efforts with its global Public Affairs Strategic Council to address regional challenges in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific. This work will continue in 2025 with the formation of a Policy MET for the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing its dedication to global, member-driven advocacy.
The primary objectives of the U.S. Policy MET are to gather member expertise, agree on the most pressing policy priorities, and assess whether to focus advocacy efforts at the federal or state level—or both. Policy priorities paper(s) may also feed into the work of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), further aligning Cascale’s strategies with broader industry initiatives. By integrating member expertise, the MET will strengthen Cascale’s voice on critical legislative and regulatory matters, ensuring the organization remains a leading advocate during this transformative political period.
To stay informed about the progress of the U.S. Policy MET and future initiatives, stakeholders are encouraged to subscribe to Cascale newsletter(s).
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.
