The TAC also advises on tool offerings from Better Buying and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
The Council consists of representatives from organisations such as CIEL Textiles, Columbia Sportswear, EILEEN FISHER, Elevate Textiles, Leadership & Sustainability, MAS Holdings, Patagonia, Primark, Sapphire Textile Mills, World Resource Institute (WRI), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Additional experts contribute from entities including 2B Policy, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
The TAC was created following requests from members for increased transparency and broader participation in decision-making processes within Cascale’s governance model. Its role includes delivering expert recommendations that are recorded and distributed through established governance channels.
These outputs reach Cascale’s Executive Team, Board of Directors, and all members to encourage alignment.
Frameworks like the Higg Index are deployed worldwide using Worldly’s technology platform and inform environmental and social strategies across global supply chains. Thousands of organisations employ these measurement tools to advance supply chain sustainability efforts.
Cascale governance director Nikki Wood said: “This evolution reflects what we’ve heard clearly from our members: they want structured, transparent pathways to contribute their expertise. The Technical Advisory Council strengthens our foundation of governance and measurement, ensuring that the systems our industry relies on remain credible, inclusive, and responsive to emerging challenges.”
The TAC operates in an advisory capacity while Cascale’s Board of Directors continues as the primary decision-making authority.
The Board is elected equally by affiliates, manufacturers, brands, and retailers. The TAC’s structure includes open participation calls and balanced representation across membership categories as part of its design.
Cascale grounds its governance in principles such as collaboration, equity, inclusion, and transparency. These values are reflected in the TAC’s procedures through published reports and regular communication updates for members.
Throughout 2026, Cascale plans to phase in further changes to its governance system. Members can access updates and view documentation related to these changes via the Governance section on Cascale Connect.
Cascale’s Technical Advisory Council chair and Copeland Consultancy founder and owner Todd Copeland said: “The formation of a Technical Advisory Council is an exciting step in Cascale’s ongoing development of sustainability tools like the Higg Index, with the intent of ensuring they are the most applicable, accessible, widely adopted, and effective means for measurement and improvement of sustainability performance.
“Going forward, structured input from all perspectives will influence the future of sustainability tools, reflecting Cascale’s history of equal partnership and continuous improvement.”
Last month, Cascale appointed Ying McGuire as its new chief executive officer (CEO), with her tenure set to begin on 1 June 2026.
