On 19 Nov 2025, at the Asia-Pacific Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Expo & Summit (APTEXPO) in Singapore, we shared early insights from our Sustainability Sectoral Plan — an ongoing study by the Singapore Fashion Council and South Pole exploring how ASEAN can position itself as a leading hub for circular and sustainable fashion.
How we approached the study 🛠️
- Conducted a baseline study on sustainability practices across ASEAN, from measurement frameworks to on-ground initiatives
- Benchmarked ASEAN fashion hubs to map strengths and gaps in policy, infrastructure, technology, and market demand
- Engaged 50+ ecosystem players across the supply chain—from producers and manufacturers to retailers, recyclers, and innovators
What we’re seeing so far 📌
- Progress across ASEAN is promising but uneven
- Water & waste challenges are both costly and highly location-specific
- Recycling capacity is still limited
- SMEs are ready to move but face constraints
- Singapore is well-positioned to “connect the dots” through regional collaboration and innovation
Key ideas to accelerate ASEAN’s transformation 🚀
- 🌐 Harmonise policies and incentives to scale sustainable practices across borders
- 🔄 Link circularity hubs connecting collection, recycling, and fibre-to-fibre innovation
- ⚙️ Share technology, data and knowledge through collaborative pilot projects and industry platforms… and more to come as the study progress
Want to play a part in shaping a more sustainable fashion future?
🤝 Connect with us to explore synergies here.
