Join us in Athens, September 15–17, 2026, for the 15th edition of Cascale’s hybrid flagship Annual Meeting — our premier member‑exclusive event where brands, retailers, manufacturers, sourcing agents, NGOs, service providers, academia, and more come together to shape strategy and drive impact at scale. Through collective action, future‑proofing with standardized tools and data, such as the Higg Index, and amplifying diverse voices, this event will showcase how unified action creates tangible and sustainable business value for all.
In his latest blog, Lee Green shares key takeaways from the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025, from bold CEO insights to urgent calls for climate action and responsible purchasing practices.
After a 16-hour flight, several hours of entertaining my three-year-old, and despite the jet-lag, I’m putting pen to paper on my reflections while my little one takes her afternoon nap. It feels like the right moment to reflect — because our Annual Meeting 2025 in Hong Kong was nothing short of extraordinary.
This was our biggest and best yet: over 700 attendees, 100+ speakers, and 33 sponsors came together under the theme “A Movement for All.” It was the first time our programming centered outright on two problem statements, including unpacking how to make responsible purchasing practices the norm and trouble-shooting more effective buyer-supplier engagement models. The energy in every room made it clear: this is a movement that’s only gaining momentum.
What stood out most this year was the engagement of manufacturers. Their presence and voice were felt across every stage, roundtable, and networking moment. It was noticed by everyone. And rightly so, because accelerating climate action and embedding responsible purchasing practices can only happen if manufacturers are at the center of the conversation.
The content and dialogue across the two days were outstanding. From urgent discussions on climate risks and adaptation, to bold ideas for rewiring buyer–supplier relationships, to practical steps on responsible purchasing practices, every session pushed us forward. The honesty from C-suite leaders (we also had more CEOs joining the event than ever before) was refreshing, the insights from practitioners were invaluable, and the collective sense of responsibility was inspiring.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the remarkable effort of the Cascale team. From content planning to logistics, from sponsorship to media, from speaker support to production — you brought passion, professionalism, and determination at every step. I am deeply proud of what we accomplished together. So, thank you again for your collective efforts.
As I look back, here are a few personal takeaways from Hong Kong:
This event has set a new bar. We broke records, built new connections, and sparked ideas that will shape our industry in the months and years ahead. And we’re not stopping here. We’re already excited for what’s next: the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Greece.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Hong Kong, in person and virtually. Together, we’re proving that sustainability is not just a goal, but a business imperative. And together, we are building a movement for all.
— Lee GreenVP, Marketing & Communications
Two-day flagship event draws record 700 participants across five stages to tackle climate, purchasing practices, and supply chain resilience
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – September 23, 2025: The Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 was more than an event — it was a movement in action. Over two days, 700 attendees, 100+ speakers, and 33 sponsors came together under the theme “A Movement for All.” From the main stage to hands-on workshops and closed-door roundtables, the global community’s energy was unmistakable: frank conversations, bold commitments, and a shared determination to rewire the industry.
“The Cascale Annual Meeting was a powerful reminder that no single actor can solve the challenges we face alone,” said Harsh Saini, interim CEO, Cascale. “By bringing manufacturers, brands, policymakers, and innovators together, we are building the partnerships needed to accelerate climate action and improve lives across the value chain.”
This year’s focus zeroed in on two urgent questions:
C-suite leaders spoke candidly. “It’s important that sustainability should be given equal if not more weightage in the conversation [with brands and buyers],” reflected Dinesh Virwani, Executive Vice Chairman, Epic Group. Others echoed the urgency for rebalancing power in buyer–supplier relationships to enable investment in decarbonization and worker well-being, and made an urgent call for brand CEOs to get back on the factory floor.
On day one, Joseph Phi, CEO of Li & Fung, opened his session on the importance of working together to turn ESG ambition into action, and action into impact. He then closed with an even stronger message: “In the end, sustainability is not about saving the planet from business. It’s about saving business on a changing planet.” The day ended with a stirring call to action from David Begbie of Crossroads Foundation, who told the audience: “This cannot be a movement for some; it must be a movement for all.”
Day two brought further energy with Suren Fernando, CEO of MAS Holdings, underscoring the importance of shared commitments between brands and manufacturers, noting: “What we have found essential is to work with partners who believe, like we do, that sustainability is a driver of resilience – not a tradeoff against it, “ and an electrifying panel amplifying supplier voices. The meeting closed with Hon. Sunny Tan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Council, celebrating Hong Kong’s role as a hub for global fashion leadership.
Reflecting on the record-breaking event, Lee Green, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Cascale, added: “This was our biggest and best Annual Meeting yet. What stood out was the presence and candor of manufacturers. Their voices shaped the dialogue and reminded everyone that transformation starts where products are made. The conversations were real, the commitments tangible, and the sense of shared purpose stronger than ever.”
The program also saw the launch of Cascale’s China Country Report: Macroeconomic and Sustainability Analysis, highlighting opportunities for renewable energy, circularity, and digital innovation in China’s apparel sector, and an announcement from Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder, on Cascale’s acquisition of key assets of the Sustainable Furnishing Council.
Sponsors included Li & Fung & LFX, Retraced, Epic Group, TAL Apparel, VF Corporation, Nike, and many others.
Looking ahead, Cascale will continue to raise the bar: the Annual Meeting 2026 will take place in Greece, further cementing its reputation as the leading convening space for driving collective sustainability action. Contact Cascale’s events team to learn more.
Cascale has acquired key assets of the nonprofit Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), the only industry-wide member organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in home furnishings.
Acquisition will expand goals to combat climate change and support decent work in the global home furnishings sector
Hong Kong – September 17, 2025: Cascale has acquired key assets of the nonprofit Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), the only industry-wide member organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in home furnishings. After expanding beyond apparel into the wider consumer goods industry, which includes home furnishings, Cascale leads the drive to combat climate change and support decent work across the value chain. At Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder, joined Scarlette Tapp, SFC Executive Director, to announce the key asset acquisition.
SFC services will now be delivered by Cascale, while SFC continues as a membership organisation for a transitional period. This means SFC members benefit from the same trusted brand — with expanded global support and expertise from Cascale.
“From the beginning, Cascale has worked to unite industries around a shared vision: tackling climate change and supporting decent work throughout the value chain,” said Rick Ridgeway, author, former Patagonia executive, and Cascale co-founder. “Sustainability cannot be siloed — it must be systemic, spanning every sector that touches people and the planet.”
“For nearly two decades, SFC has worked to embed sustainability in the DNA of the home furnishings industry,” said Scarlette Tapp, Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council. “Cascale will ensure that this legacy will not only continue, but scale globally — supporting businesses that are committed to reducing their environmental footprint and improving social outcomes.”
“Cascale is evolving as the leading industry association for sustainability in consumer goods,” said Harsh Saini, Cascale interim CEO. “We’re expanding our capacity to drive climate action and decent work across a broader value chain — from fashion to furnishings and beyond.”
“This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for SFC,” said Michela O’Connor Abrams, MOCA+ CEO and SFC Board Chair. “Cascale’s global reach and cross-sector leadership bring new energy to our mission and greater impact for our members, who have long been pioneers in sustainable design and manufacturing.”
Cascale will uphold SFC’s nearly 20-year legacy of education, training, and advocacy. Based in North Carolina, with most members based in North America, SFC leads efforts to promote decarbonization, reduce waste, and minimize the use of toxic chemicals in the home furnishings value chain. SFC’s tools and expertise, including the Eco-Insight Assessment Tool, accredited sustainability course, and support for the Wood Furniture Scorecard program, will continue to be available to SFC members and will eventually become part of Cascale’s global offering, benefiting members worldwide. The move follows the successful acquisition, announced in February 2025, of the Better Buying Institute’s tools.
Cascale’s 2025 Annual Meeting is built around solutions. Discover how this year’s program is designed to deliver real progress for our industry.
The Cascale Annual Meeting is our flagship event — a milestone for our alliance and the industry.
For Cascale staff, it’s an all-hands-on-deck moment as we aim to deliver an exclusive, high-caliber event experience for members: professional branding, innovative formats, and actionable content designed to drive progress.
This year, the agenda has been shaped with one clear objective: to ensure every session delivers concrete value and practical takeaways that members can apply in their own operations. We’ve moved beyond passive knowledge-sharing toward a more participatory, solutions-driven approach; one that prioritizes solving real, systemic problems. While we still have panels and presentations for information-sharing, our workshops and manufacturer-retailer roundtables offer a space for peer-to-peer problem solving. This is how your case studies come to life to solve real-world problems.
To keep the focus sharp and outcomes tangible, the program is anchored around two critical challenges drawn directly from Cascale’s strategic plan and our commitment to combating climate change and supporting decent work for all. These problem statements frame the conversations from the opening plenary through to the closing session, ensuring members leave with not just insights, but actionable paths forward.
What is the engagement model between brands and manufacturers that will effectively unlock the decarbonization efforts needed to meet ambitious climate targets?
Despite years of effort, progress on decarbonization has been slower than the urgency demands. Challenges include duplicative initiatives, inconsistent brand approaches, and costly upgrades without clear ROI for manufacturers and suppliers. A fair and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels requires shifting from top-down mandates to a collaborative model where manufacturers have a real voice in shaping solutions.
This track will set the scene with a candid panel discussion on systemic barriers before diving into problem-solving workshops and member-led case studies. The goal: to identify practical, equitable engagement models that align ambition with on-the-ground realities.
Here’s just a selection of those we’ve curated to address some of the thorniest systemic barriers to our industry decarbonization efforts:
Aligning Sourcing and Sustainability: Collaborative Decarbonization in the Apparel Supply Chain
Senior sourcing executives juggle competing priorities — cost, quality, lead time, resilience, and sustainability. Through an audience-participative workshop and panel discussion, this session explores how sustainability is currently embedded and debates alternative models of brand–manufacturer collaboration.
Engaging Across Tiers for Supply Chain Decarbonization
The bulk of GHG emissions occur in Tier 2 material manufacturing, yet engagement here is often limited. This session looks at multi-partite engagement models between brands, sourcing agents, garment producers, and upstream textile manufacturers.
Understanding the Journey: Sharing on Scope 3 Emissions Challenges and Opportunities
Hear from leading manufacturers extending climate action into their own Scope 3 emissions, including successes, setbacks, and lessons learned.
Climate Adaptation: Understanding Climate Risks and Building Resilience in the Supply Chain
We cannot bring up fairness and equity in climate action without addressing the disproportionate impact that climate change is having in many manufacturing countries. This session will examine these impacts and showcase strategies manufacturers and their partners are using to adapt — protecting people, safeguarding production, and building long-term resilience from cotton fields to garment factories.
Emerging Decarbonization Financing Models
Attendees can anticipate real-time case studies to help showcase the emerging examples of sustainable financing models. Designed as an engaging roundtable, this format will allow for maximum engagement from speakers and attendees.
What will it take to make responsible purchasing practices the baseline expectation rather than the exception?
Decent work starts with how brands buy, and there are many global factors impacting this process. Yet, for many manufacturers, late payments, unrealistic lead times, and last-minute changes are still commonplace. The Better Buying Garment Scorecard 2025 found progress is, in fact, slowing. With Better Buying now part of Cascale, we have powerful tools and data to address these issues — but adoption, integration across business functions, and follow-through are still lacking.
This track will confront the gap between intention and impact, exploring how to embed responsible purchasing practices across sourcing, finance, and leadership, while amplifying supplier voices in shaping buying behavior. It will also tackle the practicalities of aligning with due diligence legislation, anticipating ripple effects of global trade, and building shared accountability across the value chain.
Take a look at just some of the sessions being developed on this topic, with more available to choose from:
Setting the Scene: What Will it Take to Make Responsible Purchasing Practices the Norm, Not the Exception?
This opening panel will confront the reality that harmful purchasing behaviors persist despite widespread recognition of the problem. It will unpack why progress has slowed, explore the potential unlocked by Cascale’s integration of Better Buying, and outline how aligned data, shared commitment, and collective leadership can shift the industry from intention to action.
What’s Holding Back Supplier Voice and How Do We Fix It?
This session will examine why supplier feedback often goes unheard and why tools like the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index see limited uptake. It will explore barriers such as fear and fatigue, highlight the potential of collective, anonymized feedback, and identify strategies for strengthening safe, effective supplier-led engagement.
Audit Fatigue: From Dialogue to Real Movement
As regulatory demands grow, audit duplication continues to drain resources without delivering proportional value. This session will explore convergence, shared data, and mutual recognition as pathways to credible, scalable solutions, focusing on how to build trust and reduce repetitive assessments across the value chain.
Aligning Policy and Practice: Advancing Responsible Business Conduct and Fair Purchasing Practices
Bringing together experts in social affairs and legislation, this session will examine the role of policy in advancing responsible purchasing. It will address alignment with due diligence laws, such as the EU CSDDD, and showcase Cascale’s work to connect Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index data with regulatory frameworks.
View the full program to learn more.
In response to member feedback, two stages will be live-streamed for in-person and online attendees, with recordings available within an hour. Additional virtual-only sessions will be scheduled for European and Americas time zones to ensure global participation.
The program is developed with guidance from a dedicated Program Advisory Council and internal champions:
This is more than an agenda: it’s a commitment to progress. Join us at the Cascale Annual Meeting to help co-create the solutions, collaborations, and commitments that will shape what comes next for our industry.
Cascale’s Lee Green, Christina Fleming, Katie Hess, and Chris Marshall also contributed their insights to this blog.
Cascale attendees can enjoy exclusive complimentary and discounted passes to ReThink HK 2025 — Hong Kong’s flagship sustainability event.
Learn from industry leaders and recognized change-makers from across Hong Kong as they share critical insights and address global risks and opportunities from a regional perspective.
