Last year marked a significant turning point. Our rebrand wasn’t just a new name — it signaled the beginning of a clearer, stronger commitment to action. But with critical 2030 sustainability targets just five years away, incremental change isn’t enough. The clock is ticking, and the stakes are high.

We know exactly what we need to achieve, but now our focus must shift firmly to how we get there. To truly drive collective action at scale across the consumer goods industry, we must choose focused initiatives, execute them exceptionally well, and meticulously measure our progress.

Our Path Forward 

For over a decade, Cascale and its members have been hard at work transforming the practices of our industry. We built the groundbreaking Higg Index tools, set ambitious goals, navigated complex regulations, and fostered industry collaboration. Yet, despite these considerable efforts, progress has stalled. Decarbonization is behind schedule, foundational environmental performance remains inconsistent, purchasing practices are often unfair, and social audits are still fragmented.

We weren’t founded to simply be good enough or to settle for incremental improvements. We’re not here to save face or to impress shareholders or spin a narrative. Cascale exists to lead meaningful, systemic change — change that matters to real people and the planet we share. To achieve our goals, we must change our approach.

Impact through Focused Action

Our new approach — “impact through focused action” — means doing what we do best. After deep work and consultation across our stakeholders, we determined that our greatest impact lies in two core areas: combatting climate change and supporting decent work for all.

The keyword here is action. It’s time to coordinate our efforts, put our energy in the same places, and use our scale to our advantage, so we can unlock more: more impact, more speed, and more results for people and the planet.

Two Pillars, Four Clear Priorities

Here’s how we will catalyze impact across the consumer goods industry.

Combat Climate Change

Climate action demands clarity and coordination. Our primary vehicle for accelerating industry-wide decarbonization is the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), through which we’re mobilizing the entire industry around shared priorities. We’re specifically targeting the 1,800 strategic suppliers responsible for 80% of the industry’s emissions, per a Higg FEM 2024 data analysis. By focusing our collective action on these critical players, we can catalyze transformative change.

Alongside the IDR, targeted programs like the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) support manufacturers at every stage of their decarbonization journey, helping them implement practical solutions and measure real progress. Additionally, setting ambitious yet achievable science-based targets (SBTs) and science-aligned targets (SATs) ensures that individual actions directly support our collective climate goals.

However, for meaningful progress to occur, the right environmental foundation must be in place. By aligning and elevating Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP), tools like the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) enable us to align around common environmental metrics, reduce audit fatigue, and drive continuous, measurable improvements across the supply chain.

Support Decent Work for All

Fairness and justice are not up for debate.

With Better Buying’s methodologies, including the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI), now integrated into the Cascale family, we’re more focused than ever on fostering ethical purchasing practices and moving from voluntary commitments to mandatory accountability.

Audit convergence is also essential. By aligning social audit frameworks, such as the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) and the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF), industry stakeholders can collaboratively engage, streamline processes, and improve audit outcomes, driving greater accountability.

What You Gain

Cascale is collective action at scale, driving focused initiatives that deliver measurable progress across the consumer goods industry. We mobilize our global network, co-create solutions rooted in the realities of our diverse membership, and leverage transformative tools like the Higg Index to align stakeholders, deliver actionable insights, and accelerate industry-wide transformation.

Our updated membership approach is structured around clear, measurable outcomes in four critical areas: CO₂ emissions reduction, foundational environmental performance, responsible purchasing practices, and social audit convergence.

Tailored Value for Every Member

• Manufacturers: Access targeted tools, resources, and insights designed to strengthen operational resilience, enhance environmental and social performance, and amplify your voice within the industry.
• Brands & Retailers: Leverage Cascale’s extensive network, collaborative platforms, and transformative data tools to accelerate your sustainability goals, meet regulatory demands, and enhance your competitive positioning.
• Service Providers: Gain visibility and opportunities by aligning your expertise and innovations with industry-leading sustainability initiatives, positioning your business as a critical partner for progress.
• Affiliate Organizations: Collaborate directly in shaping impactful solutions, access rich data insights, and participate actively in a community committed to collective transformation.

So…Why Cascale? 

As one of the largest networks of manufacturers, retailers, brands, and affiliate organizations in consumer goods, Cascale uniquely has the scale and influence to drive collective action. With data-driven tools like the Higg Index (available exclusively on Worldly), we pinpoint exactly where meaningful action is needed. Known historically for our transformative impact in textile and apparel, we’re now mobilizing the broader consumer goods industry around the most impactful drivers of change.

But scale alone isn’t enough. Collective action demands collective accountability. Cascale won’t shy away from holding organizations and policymakers accountable. Because Cascale, our members, and the industry are in this together.

The fewer silos we allow, the greater the impact we can achieve together.