Author: sHq_LoGiNz
by Lee Green
When an industry is trying to move faster on climate and decent work, clarity makes action easier. Last year, more than 7,000 people — 68 percent of whom are Cascale members – took part in Cascale’s Industry Awareness Benchmark Survey, giving us a clearer view of how the industry sees both the challenge and Cascale’s role in addressing it.
Top Findings from Cascale’s 2025 Industry Survey
- 84 percent of respondents believe the consumer goods industry can reduce carbon emissions in its supply chain, and 87 percent believe it can improve working conditions.
- 86 percent of respondents are somewhat or very confident Cascale will drive meaningful change on decarbonization by 2030, and 87 percent are somewhat or very confident Cascale will drive meaningful change on working conditions by 2030.
- 81 percent of respondents indicated they were aware of at least one of Cascale’s programs, tools, and methodologies.
- While Cascale is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, nearly 49 percent of respondents incorrectly identified us as a for-profit company.
Enthusiasm is important, especially in impact work. So it goes without saying, we are grateful to everyone who took the time to participate. Whether you’ve engaged with Cascale for years or are still getting to know us, your input helps strengthen how we present our programs, tools, and methodologies — and improve the pathways that make it easier for stakeholders to find what’s most relevant to their goals. Cascale’s 2026 Industry Awareness Survey is now open – and just takes two minutes to complete.
Sustainability targets across the consumer goods industry are steep, and coordinated, collective action is critical to meet them. Optimism and confidence help create momentum — and that momentum can be half the battle. Our survey results were encouraging, with strong optimism reflected across potential impact and progress: 84 percent of respondents believe the consumer goods industry can reduce carbon emissions in its supply chain, and 87 percent believe it can improve working conditions.
Confidence in Cascale’s role is also strong. A majority 86 percent of respondents are somewhat or very confident Cascale will drive meaningful change on decarbonization by 2030, and 87 percent are somewhat or very confident Cascale will drive meaningful change on working conditions by 2030. We also gained a useful read on awareness of Cascale’s work. Over 81 percent of respondents indicated they were aware of one or more of Cascale’s programs, tools, and methodologies — an encouraging foundation to build on. However, although Cascale is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, nearly 49 percent of respondents incorrectly identified us as a for-profit company – a mistake we will continue to remedy.
A Closer Look at What Cascale Offers
Our survey showed us that awareness of the full set of offerings still varies across audiences. This only strengthens our imperative to organize and present our work more clearly, with improved pathways for organizations to explore what’s most relevant to their goals and better understand how Cascale helps the industry align and take action.
Cascale’s programs, tools, and methodologies are designed to help the industry align on credible approaches — and then use that alignment to drive measurable progress. Here are a few key offerings to explore:
- Higg Index — Since Cascale’s foundation as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index has provided a common foundation for consistent social and environmental sustainability measurement across the value chain. Cascale stewards and governs the Higg Index frameworks, modules, and methodologies, which are implemented globally through the Worldly sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform.
- Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) — Helps manufacturers strengthen climate action planning and implementation through capacity building, guidance, and peer exchange.
- Better Buying — Strengthens responsible purchasing practices by elevating supplier feedback and supporting more resilient, durable buyer–supplier relationships.
- Sustainable Furnishings Council tools — Added to Cascale’s toolbox in 2025 to further support cross-sector relevance and practical action in the home furnishings industry.
- Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) — Cascale convened members and stakeholders to establish a clear, industry-aligned definition of Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP), baseline environmental management practices expected of all global facilities manufacturing consumer goods, in order to align with legal compliance, improve comparability, and mitigate critical risks of environmental harm.
Cascale’s Role in Delivering Member Value
While Cascale is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, we are ever attuned to the business realities of our members. Our membership spans manufacturers, brands, retailers, non-corporates, service providers, academia, and others. And our unique strength lies in convening them all. (Learn more about Cascale membership).
Today, we operate not only in apparel and footwear, but also in home furnishings, bags and luggage, sporting and outdoor goods, and the wider sweep of consumer goods. This is a knowledge gap we will continue to work on closing.
Why does membership matter? As we explored in the recent State of the Industry 2026 report, many of the industry’s most pressing challenges — like climate change and decent work — are impossible for a single organization to address alone. Cascale membership brings the industry together to set shared priorities for measurable progress. By aligning measurement frameworks, expectations, and improvement approaches, we help organizations reduce duplicative efforts and strengthen the credibility of their sustainability practices.
That role comes to life through how we strengthen measurement, enable action through our tools and methodologies, and convene the industry to move forward together. This includes our forthcoming Annual Meeting in Athens, where the industry comes together to discuss system-level challenges, collaborate, and learn from one another.
Want to help inform our process? Take two minutes to complete Cascale’s 2026 Industry Survey today!
Lee Green is vice president, communications & marketing, at Cascale.
Beyond the Basics: Elevating Your Approach to CSRD Metrics
Tuesday June 23, 2026
11:00 AM PT/2:00 PM ET
CSRD assurance requirements are approaching, and organizations are advancing their readiness for external audit and assurance. In our previous webinar ‘Preparing for CSRD Mandatory Assurance: What Companies Need to Do Now‘, we outlined the foundational elements relevant to CSRD audit preparedness.
This session will focus on key CSRD metrics from an assurance perspective, highlighting common reporting challenges and areas where deficiencies are frequently identified during audits. We will also examine typical issues related to supporting documentation and disclosures, including the nature and extent of evidence expected to support reported information across selected metrics.
This webinar is intended to provide an audit-focused perspective on complex metrics and disclosures, with emphasis on factors that may impact the completeness, accuracy, and auditability of reported information.
A live Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Beyond the Basics: Elevating Your Approach to CSRD Metrics
Tuesday June 23, 2026
11:00 AM PT/2:00 PM ET
CSRD assurance requirements are approaching, and organizations are advancing their readiness for external audit and assurance. In our previous webinar ‘Preparing for CSRD Mandatory Assurance: What Companies Need to Do Now‘, we outlined the foundational elements relevant to CSRD audit preparedness.
This session will focus on key CSRD metrics from an assurance perspective, highlighting common reporting challenges and areas where deficiencies are frequently identified during audits. We will also examine typical issues related to supporting documentation and disclosures, including the nature and extent of evidence expected to support reported information across selected metrics.
This webinar is intended to provide an audit-focused perspective on complex metrics and disclosures, with emphasis on factors that may impact the completeness, accuracy, and auditability of reported information.
A live Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Education
St. Joseph’s College
(High School)
Coonoor, India
(1995 – 1997)
PSG College of Technology
(Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering)
Coimbatore, India
(1997 – 2002)
Indian Institute of Management (MBA)
Ahmedabad, India
(2003 – 2005)
If we were to interview your teachers, what would they say about you?
They’d say, “He’s a student with potential. I wish he would just apply himself like he should.” I’d like to think the former still applies, but I have gotten better at the latter.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t know, but I knew what I didn’t want to be. My parents built a successful small business, and while I deeply admired that, I knew I would be miserable in it. That subconsciously pushed me toward a lifelong pursuit of learning, growth and building my own career — just like they did in their own way.
WORK
First Job
In college, I was as a door-to-door sales rep for Yellow Pages ads. I remember being amazed on my first day that I could earn enough in a day to afford a Pizza Hut pizza (Rs. 100 back then).
i-Flex solutions (now part of Oracle), Bengalaru, India
2002-2003: IT Consultant
Goldman Sachs, New York City, New York, United States
2005-2021: Investment Banking, Research & Multi-Strategy Investing
Goldbelly, New York City, New York, United States
2021-2024: Chief Financial Officer of a high-growth e-commerce startup
Yum! Brands, Plano, Texas, United States
2024-2025: Chief Strategy Officer & Treasurer
2025-present: Chief Financial Officer
What moments, or who, in your life influenced the way you work?
I’ve been shaped by strong working women, especially my mom growing up and my wife today. They keep me grounded, offer great advice and model how to balance career, home and life.
What part of your career journey was unexpected?
There’s no finish line. Change is constant. Every win or setback is followed by a bigger, more exciting challenge. My younger self didn’t expect that.
What is a piece of advice that you have found valuable?
Big ambitions are achieved by ordinary people like you and me doing simple things consistently well. Getting simple things right 50% of the time is easy, 90% is hard and 98%+ is incredibly difficult. I believe in the challenge and the power of consistency, and I’ve made it the foundation of my recognition: the “Brick by Brick” Award.
What makes you happy?
Balance. On a good day, I start work early, make it home for dinner and bedtime with my daughter, and maybe fit in some exercise. Most importantly, I want the people in my life, at home and at work, to feel valued and cared for.
How do you disconnect from work and recharge during your free time?
DIY projects: assembling furniture, wiring electronics or building backyard setups. My wife gives me high marks for project enthusiasm and low marks for project aesthetics.
What Motivates You?
The culture at Yum!: strong talent, high integrity, ambition and energy. We have all the ingredients to achieve great things, and being part of that is deeply motivating.
The new weekly AskNature Podcast is now available.
Season 1 is an exploration of the power of reconnecting with the rest of nature––and the changes it creates in technology, strategy, society, and our own hearts and minds. New episodes will launch every Wednesday through July 1.
Up first is an inspiring opening conversation with the Biomimicry Institute’s own Janine Benyus and Paris Climate Agreement architect Christiana Figueres, hosted by the Biomimicry Institute’s CEO, Amanda Sturgeon.
The new weekly AskNature Podcast is now available.
Season 1 is an exploration of the power of reconnecting with the rest of nature––and the changes it creates in technology, strategy, society, and our own hearts and minds. New episodes will launch every Wednesday through July 1.
Up first is an inspiring opening conversation with the Biomimicry Institute’s own Janine Benyus and Paris Climate Agreement architect Christiana Figueres, hosted by the Biomimicry Institute’s CEO, Amanda Sturgeon.
ESCAZÚ, Costa Rica, June 1, 2026 /3BL/ – Bacardi in Costa Rica has once again earned Great Place to Work® Certification™, coming in at #13 in the country and reinforcing a commitment to creating a supportive and high-performing workplace culture. According to the latest survey results, 86% of participants said Bacardi in Costa Rica is a great place to work, while ratings on fair treatment regardless of gender, race, or age all achieved scores in the high 90s.
“The recognition reflects the continued focus at Bacardi on fostering an environment where people feel respected, empowered, and able to thrive both personally and professionally,” says Gloriana Azofeifa Hidalgo, HR Director for Bacardi Enterprise Services in Costa Rica. “Our workplace culture is more than a point of pride — it is a competitive advantage that helps us attract exceptional talent, drive innovation, and deliver results for our business.”
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, a UKG company, brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and Great Place To Work Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified and receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces list.
Learn more: https://greatplacetoworkcarca.com/es/certificada/bacardi-costa-rica/
In 2018, Bacardi obtained its essential COSTA RICA certification in recognition for its efforts, as a foreign company, to promote Costa Rican talent and world-class services across the globe all while exemplifying values of excellence, sustainability, innovation, and social progress. The company has also been recognized as “Best Companies for Young Professionals” as announced by Best Place to Employers for Youth (EFY).
About Bacardi in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is home to Bacardi Enterprise Services, the global shared services division of Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company. The Bacardi office is located in Escazú and originally opened in 2014. Over the years, the site has grown in geographic scope and services provided and today employs more than 300 people and serves as the leading site of global shared services for the company.
Bacardi Limited boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whisky, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Media inquiries: Jessica Merz, VP, Corporate Communications, jmerz@bacardi.com
ESCAZÚ, Costa Rica, June 1, 2026 /3BL/ – Bacardi in Costa Rica has once again earned Great Place to Work® Certification™, coming in at #13 in the country and reinforcing a commitment to creating a supportive and high-performing workplace culture. According to the latest survey results, 86% of participants said Bacardi in Costa Rica is a great place to work, while ratings on fair treatment regardless of gender, race, or age all achieved scores in the high 90s.
“The recognition reflects the continued focus at Bacardi on fostering an environment where people feel respected, empowered, and able to thrive both personally and professionally,” says Gloriana Azofeifa Hidalgo, HR Director for Bacardi Enterprise Services in Costa Rica. “Our workplace culture is more than a point of pride — it is a competitive advantage that helps us attract exceptional talent, drive innovation, and deliver results for our business.”
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, a UKG company, brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and Great Place To Work Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified and receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces list.
Learn more: https://greatplacetoworkcarca.com/es/certificada/bacardi-costa-rica/
In 2018, Bacardi obtained its essential COSTA RICA certification in recognition for its efforts, as a foreign company, to promote Costa Rican talent and world-class services across the globe all while exemplifying values of excellence, sustainability, innovation, and social progress. The company has also been recognized as “Best Companies for Young Professionals” as announced by Best Place to Employers for Youth (EFY).
About Bacardi in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is home to Bacardi Enterprise Services, the global shared services division of Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company. The Bacardi office is located in Escazú and originally opened in 2014. Over the years, the site has grown in geographic scope and services provided and today employs more than 300 people and serves as the leading site of global shared services for the company.
Bacardi Limited boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whisky, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Media inquiries: Jessica Merz, VP, Corporate Communications, jmerz@bacardi.com