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.