China is emerging as a global leader in low-carbon and circular manufacturing. Jeremy Lardeau of Cascale outlines why outdoor brands must collaborate and align with this shift to stay competitive and climate-resilient.

China’s rise as a low-carbon production leader

China is rapidly evolving into a hub for low-carbon, circular, and technology-driven production. China built nearly twice as much utility-scale wind and solar capacity as the rest of the world combined in 2024 and 2025, and with national initiatives pushing for textile recycling by 2025, the country is making measurable strides toward sustainability in its textile and apparel sector. Just this week, China announced its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 7 and 10 percent by 2035, solidifying its commitment to renewables.

As Cascale’s recent analysis shows, many Chinese textile manufacturers are no longer just meeting compliance standards; they’re turning sustainability into a competitive advantage. Factories that adopt renewable energy and improve efficiency to offer “low-carbon apparel” are changing the conversation for brands.

However, ongoing US-China trade tensions are prompting some American importers to rethink sourcing strategies. While not all apparel categories are equally affected, unpredictability adds complexity to long-term planning.

Action points for outdoor brands

So, what does this mean for the outdoor industry?

First, outdoor brands should initiate discussions with their Chinese suppliers about their climate goals, greenhouse gas emissions and energy sources. Tools, like Cascale’s Higg Facility Environment Module (Higg FEM), enable this dialogue between brands and suppliers, by reporting and validating sustainability performance. The Higg FEM is a key tool for the industry value chain, striking a balance between reporting and benchmarking.

Second, collaboration in a pre-competitive environment is key to progress. Although it is promising to see many outdoor brands individually moving towards decarbonization, brands often source from the same facilities. This means some initiatives may force manufacturers and suppliers to work to different standards and specifications. Instead, outdoor brands should collaborate to develop aligned plans in partnership with each other and their supply chains, helping to build trust and transparency in the process.

From sourcing to strategy

Finally, outdoor brands must take a considered approach to their sourcing practices. To reach the industry’s sustainability ambitions, companies need to evolve the buyer-supplier engagement to foster long-term collaboration, climate investment, and shared accountability. There can be no meaningful progress towards deep, complex, and capital-intensive decarbonization efforts without a true commercial partnership between buyers and suppliers. Tools like the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index can help brands understand the impact of their current purchasing practices and provide a blueprint for improvement.

Our recent Cascale Annual Meeting, which brought together over 700 stakeholders, underscored a critical truth: collective action is no longer optional. It’s the only way forward. For the outdoor industry, the path is clear. Sustainability isn’t just an added value; it’s an ingrained strategy. China’s evolving manufacturing landscape is a call to action we can’t afford to ignore.

Lead photo: Cascale