From Intelligence to Action: A Sectoral Plan for Sustainable Fashion Leadership in Singapore and ASEAN
- 29 September 2026
Customers and international buyers are asking harder questions about where products come from, what they are made of and what happens to them at the end of their useful life. Answering those questions takes time, funding and technical expertise – resources that many businesses, especially SMEs, cannot easily spare.
To understand these challenges, Singapore Fashion Council worked with climate and sustainability advisory firm South Pole to examine the sector across Singapore and three key regional markets: Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
More than , NGOs and solution providers, alongside a review of international standards and regional policies.
The findings point to a clear capability gap (and opportunity). Survey respondents, especially brands and retailers, reported uneven measurement of emissions, textile waste and water use. In Singapore, approximately 211,000 tonnes of textile and leather waste were generated in 2023, with only 2% recycled. Interviews also found that sustainability efforts remain largely driven by the requirements of international buyers, while regulations and incentives vary across regional markets.
One message came through particularly strongly: businesses cannot address challenges such as traceability, textile waste, financing and technology adoption on their own.
Singapore is well placed to help close that gap. Our trade connections, research capabilities and growing sustainability ecosystem give us an opportunity to convene partners, test solutions and help enterprises translate sustainability ambitions into practical action.
The research has produced two resources to support that work.
How to use these reports
The Sectoral Plan: start here if you want to act
The Sectoral Plan for Sustainable Fashion Leadership in Singapore & ASEAN is a practical playbook for Singapore’s fashion enterprises and the regional partners they work with. It sets out 33 action areas across five pathways:
- Define your circular ambition and strategy
- Measure and report with confidence
- Engage the value chain
- Communicate with credibility
- Unlock enablers and finance
Each action area identifies whether it is most relevant to brands and retailers, manufacturers or upstream producers. It also includes practical guidance for SMEs and links to relevant standards and resources.
The action areas are organised into three levels so that businesses can begin from where they are today. Foundational actions are achievable within one to three months with a minimal budget. Progressive actions are achievable within three to six months with some internal resourcing and strategic changes. Leading actions require one to two years and often involve external collaboration.
Case studies show how these ideas are already being put into practice. Singapore-headquartered Browzwear is helping major international retailers reduce physical sampling through 3D product development. Apparel manufacturer Ghim Li used verified ESG data to secure a S$16 million sustainability-linked loan. The Circular Fashion Hub demonstrates how independent circular businesses can pool resources, footfall and community under one roof.
The Plan also provides a directory of tools, grants, green loans and financing programmes available in Singapore and across ASEAN.
It is not intended to be read from cover to cover. Start with the pathway that reflects your most pressing priority, choose the tier that matches your current capabilities and identify one action you can begin this quarter.
The Baseline Assessment Report: explore the evidence
The Baseline Assessment Report provides the evidence behind the Plan. It examines the sustainability measures that matter to international buyers, compares policies, waste infrastructure and industry capabilities across Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, and captures what businesses and other stakeholders told us they need.
The Report is particularly useful if you are planning regional expansion, responding to changing buyer expectations, preparing for international textile-related requirements or looking for potential partners and solutions.
Contact the SFC Sustainability Team at sustainability@sgfashioncouncil.org.sg.