Latest news with #JeremyLardeau
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Bangladesh Positioned to Lead Sustainable Apparel Manufacturing
AMSTERDAM & HONG KONG & OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition) has released ' Bangladesh Country Report: Macroeconomic and Sustainability Analysis,' a comprehensive report detailing Bangladesh's progress and potential to drive sustainable progress in the consumer goods industry. The report also reveals a pivotal opportunity to align with the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), a sector-wide initiative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45 percent by 2030. This follows Cascale's April publication of the ' Vietnam Country Report: Macroeconomic, Socioeconomic, and Industry Analysis ' report, developed with the support of Apparel Impact Institute (Aii). Similar in scope, Cascale's new report emphasizes Bangladesh's impressive strides toward sustainability, including ambitious environmental targets, the rise of green manufacturing, and a growing culture of industry collaboration. 'Scaling up the decarbonization of the energy supply will be crucial for Bangladesh to meet its 2030 climate ambitions.' –Jeremy Lardeau, SVP, Higg Index, Cascale. 'The workforce is both Bangladesh's RMG sector's greatest asset – providing the people power behind its competitive advantage – and its greatest responsibility to protect. By investing in organisational health and safety, fair labor practices, and skill development, Bangladesh aims to uphold and protect the wellbeing of the millions who form the backbone of this industrial activity.' –Carolina van Loenen, Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Cascale. With a robust apparel sector that contributes over 80 percent of national exports and employs more than four million people – most of them women – Bangladesh stands behind China as the world's second-largest garment exporter, commanding 7.4 percent of the global market share. With its strong economic growth and proactive sustainability initiatives, the country is positioned to leverage both domestic policies and international collaboration to advance its low-carbon transition amid evolving global market dynamics. In 2024, Bangladesh installed an interim government that issued a 2025 Renewable Energy Policy including tax incentives and measures designed to cut fuel imports, balancing continued economic growth with a shift toward cleaner energy. The interim government has set general elections for April 2026. Key Highlights from the Bangladesh Country Report include: Economic Strength & Global Relevance With a GDP of USD 451 billion in 2024 and projected growth of 3.8 percent in 2025 (IMF), Bangladesh's economic trajectory is powered by its textile and garment sector, now expanding into higher-value products and man-made fibers. Decarbonization Commitments The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched a Sustainability Vision 2030 to guide the industry, pledging: 30 percent GHG emissions reduction 50 percent sustainable material sourcing 20 percent energy from renewable sources Zero discharge of hazardous chemicals Exclusive Environmental Performance Insights from the Higg FEM Nearly 1,300 factories in Bangladesh used Cascale's Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) in 2023. Results show stronger performance than global averages, with opportunities to scale renewable energy use and reduce dependence on natural gas. Leadership in Green Factories Bangladesh boasts over 240 LEED-certified green garment factories – the most of any country in the world. Among these are 62 of the world's top 100 highest-rated facilities, with over 500 more in the certification pipeline. Collaborative Industry Transformation In 2024, BGMEA signed a partnership MoU with Cascale to drive unified sustainability efforts across the supply chain and, in 2025, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and International Textile Manufacturers' Federation (ITMF) launched the Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI). The initiative is an innovative manufacturer-led, nationally oriented, globally coordinated program. It aims to advance environmental improvements across the supply chain by promoting manufacturer leadership on systemic challenges relating to energy use, water consumption, emissions and other key sustainability impacts, in collaboration with brands and industry initiatives. ATTI's pilot countries are Bangladesh and Türkiye, and BGMEA and BKMEA lead the ATTI Bangladesh Chapter. Under the initiative, the associations will lead the development of an ATTI Bangladesh Transformation Plan with support from the ATTI Global Council. Energy Landscape & Transition Efforts With 57 percent of national energy from gas and only two percent from renewables, Bangladesh faces challenges for a green energy transition. However, there are also many opportunities: Factories are increasingly investing in solar PV systems, bioenergy, and energy-efficient technologies to future-proof operations. A Critical Moment for the Industry The report concludes that Bangladesh is at a turning point — leveraging past progress to chart a path toward a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive future. The country's alignment with global decarbonization goals, including its role in the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, signals readiness to lead a new era of responsible manufacturing. Cascale urges brands, investors, and policymakers to support Bangladesh's transition by aligning sourcing practices with sustainability goals, offering financial mechanisms for factory upgrades, and promoting inclusive growth across the value chain. 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. LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SLCP updates framework to strengthen social, labour compliance data
The enhancements are expected to increase transparency in this data, thereby supporting the promotion of fair labour practices within international supply chains. SLCP CEO Janet Mensink said: 'This update is part of our multi-year CAF roadmap, designed to ensure that the Converged Assessment Framework remains both relevant and scalable in an evolving regulatory environment. Version 1.7 introduces enhancements that will not only maintain high-quality reports and provide credible, actionable data, but also better align with emerging human rights due diligence standards. The new version also includes features that make it easier to identify and address social and labour issues, enabling facilities to share critical findings with brands during the assessment, rather than waiting for a final report.' The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM), which is based on SLCP's CAF, forms a component of Cascale's Higg Index, a collection of tools exclusively accessible through Worldly, a platform offering insights into sustainability within supply chains. Both the Higg FSLM and SLCP's CAF are designed to tackle systemic labour issues and promote equitable working conditions worldwide. They also aim to reduce the burden of repeated audits on manufacturers and suppliers. These tools undergo annual updates by SLCP, Cascale, and Worldly in line with feedback from stakeholders to maintain their relevance and enhance their functionality. With the release of CAF v1.7 for the Higg FSLM, there is now greater alignment with due diligence processes and governance requirements, notes SLCP. This update is said to promote a more uniform and systematic method for assessing social and labour practices, contributing to increased transparency in the consumer goods sector's supply chains. Such improvements not only make businesses more robust but also help in uncovering potential risks. This systematic methodology allows facilities to consistently recognise, confront, and lessen significant concerns while supporting workers' rights and welfare, as well as evaluating overall workplace conditions. Moreover, it sharpens the detection of non-compliance within the data set and aligns with Better Work Zero Tolerance Protocols as well as International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions for consistency with international labour standards. Cascale Higg Index SVP Jeremy Lardeau said: 'The Higg FSLM is a critical tool underpinning Cascale's Support Decent Work for All strategic pillar, through which we aim to champion workers' rights, ensure fair purchasing practices, and streamline audits to foster safe and equitable workplaces. 'Especially at a time when tariffs highlight the fragility of global supply chains, these tools are critically important. When companies use a common benchmark to measure and improve performance, they build efficiencies that reduce audit fatigue and, ultimately, save time and money." In addition to updating the CAF, SLCP is broadening verifications to include 44 new countries and providing additional language options for self-assessment tools. The CAF will now be accessible in Latin American Spanish, supplementing existing versions in English, Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese. In May last year, SLCP reported that over 80% of the brands and manufacturers who have pledged to use its data have indicated they could substitute their own proprietary instruments with the CAF. "SLCP updates framework to strengthen social, labour compliance data" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SLCP updates framework to strengthen social, labour compliance data
The enhancements are expected to increase transparency in this data, thereby supporting the promotion of fair labour practices within international supply chains. SLCP CEO Janet Mensink said: 'This update is part of our multi-year CAF roadmap, designed to ensure that the Converged Assessment Framework remains both relevant and scalable in an evolving regulatory environment. Version 1.7 introduces enhancements that will not only maintain high-quality reports and provide credible, actionable data, but also better align with emerging human rights due diligence standards. The new version also includes features that make it easier to identify and address social and labour issues, enabling facilities to share critical findings with brands during the assessment, rather than waiting for a final report.' The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM), which is based on SLCP's CAF, forms a component of Cascale's Higg Index, a collection of tools exclusively accessible through Worldly, a platform offering insights into sustainability within supply chains. Both the Higg FSLM and SLCP's CAF are designed to tackle systemic labour issues and promote equitable working conditions worldwide. They also aim to reduce the burden of repeated audits on manufacturers and suppliers. These tools undergo annual updates by SLCP, Cascale, and Worldly in line with feedback from stakeholders to maintain their relevance and enhance their functionality. With the release of CAF v1.7 for the Higg FSLM, there is now greater alignment with due diligence processes and governance requirements, notes SLCP. This update is said to promote a more uniform and systematic method for assessing social and labour practices, contributing to increased transparency in the consumer goods sector's supply chains. Such improvements not only make businesses more robust but also help in uncovering potential risks. This systematic methodology allows facilities to consistently recognise, confront, and lessen significant concerns while supporting workers' rights and welfare, as well as evaluating overall workplace conditions. Moreover, it sharpens the detection of non-compliance within the data set and aligns with Better Work Zero Tolerance Protocols as well as International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions for consistency with international labour standards. Cascale Higg Index SVP Jeremy Lardeau said: 'The Higg FSLM is a critical tool underpinning Cascale's Support Decent Work for All strategic pillar, through which we aim to champion workers' rights, ensure fair purchasing practices, and streamline audits to foster safe and equitable workplaces. 'Especially at a time when tariffs highlight the fragility of global supply chains, these tools are critically important. When companies use a common benchmark to measure and improve performance, they build efficiencies that reduce audit fatigue and, ultimately, save time and money." In addition to updating the CAF, SLCP is broadening verifications to include 44 new countries and providing additional language options for self-assessment tools. The CAF will now be accessible in Latin American Spanish, supplementing existing versions in English, Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese. In May last year, SLCP reported that over 80% of the brands and manufacturers who have pledged to use its data have indicated they could substitute their own proprietary instruments with the CAF. "SLCP updates framework to strengthen social, labour compliance data" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Travelogue: Listening and Learning in Pakistan With Artistic Milliners and Diamond Fabrics
In this latest blog, we go behind the scenes with Cascale's Senior Director of Manufacturer Membership, Alexandra Rieger, following her recent visit to Artistic Milliners and Diamond Fabrics – two manufacturers leading the way in sustainability and circularity – alongside Jeremy Lardeau, SVP of the Higg Index. Rieger shares insights on challenges facing manufacturers such as audit duplication to rising demands of environmental reporting but also highlights the opportunity and importance of engaging in constructive dialogue to tackle these challenges. Read the full blog, titled: Travelogue: Listening and Learning in Pakistan with Artistic Milliners and Diamond Fabrics Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Cascale
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cascale Highlights How the Higg Index Enhances Standardization in Sustainability Reporting
Jeremy Lardeau, senior vice president of the Higg Index at Cascale, recently joined industry leaders at The Economist's Sustainability Week Asia. Over 900 business leaders came together in Bangkok to explore how the region's rapid economic growth, substantial renewable investments, and diverse ecosystems provide opportunities to lead on decarbonization. Lardeau joined the 'Troubling taxonomies: how to standardize sustainability reporting' panel, moderated by Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist. Participants also included Ornsaran Pomme Manuamorn, senior financial sector specialist at World Bank, and Susanna Hasenoehrl, head of sustainable solutions business, Asia-Pacific and Japan at SAP. While acknowledging the complexity of the supply chains, Lardeau explained the benefits of standardized sustainability reporting and the use of a common framework. He highlighted reporting challenges including limited resources, duplicative work, contradicting information, and a lack of comparable data. Lardeau also noted that governments have an important role to play in promoting standardized environmental reporting systems through sensible regulation. Lardeau shared how Cascale's Higg Index suite of tools unites the industry on a common framework, bringing together 40,000 users – including over 300 Cascale members – across the value chain. He also noted that the Higg Index facility tools, specifically the Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) and the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM), can contribute facility-level assessments to broader reporting needs. And Lardeau highlighted how supply chain management platforms can help companies comply with disclosures required by legislation. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration to scale up strategic partnerships, Lardeau noted that Cascale's new Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), developed in partnership with Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) outlines key strategies to accelerate collective action for supply chain decarbonization. Attendees were invited to register for the Cascale Forum, which will take place May 14-15 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The two-day event will bring manufacturers, suppliers, brands, retailers, and key industry stakeholders together to drive actionable solutions on decarbonization, foundational environmental performance, responsible purchasing practices, and more. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Cascale
