CAST Joins the European Footwear Confederation (CEC)

"We are very pleased to be joining CEC. This gives CAST the opportunity to actively represent the voice of suppliers and advocate for their interests within the European footwear industry. This is fully aligned with CAST’s vision for the future, in which the organisation is evolving from a trade platform into a trade association for the footwear, sports and fashion industries. In this role, we want to contribute to a strong, future-proof and innovative European footwear industry,” says Marijn Verschure, General Manager of CAST, Trade Association for Footwear, Sports and Fashion.

From Trade Platform to Trade Association
Joining CEC is in line with the development CAST has been pursuing over the past year. While CAST is known as the leading trade platform for the footwear, sports and fashion industries in the Benelux, the organisation is increasingly developing into a trade association representing footwear, sports and fashion suppliers, sharing knowledge and advocating for the collective interests of the sector.

Representing the Interests of the Benelux
Through its CEC membership, CAST will have the opportunity to make the voice of the Benelux more prominent at European level. Key topics include sustainability, digitalisation, international trade, legislation and regulation, supply chain collaboration and future-proof entrepreneurship.

A Valuable Addition to the European Network
CEC welcomes CAST as a valuable addition to its network and is confident that CAST’s practical experience, market knowledge and extensive network will make an important contribution to representing the collective interests of the European footwear industry.

"One of CEC’s priorities is to bring together organisations that contribute to the further development of the European footwear ecosystem. CAST has established itself as a leading platform connecting manufacturers, brands, suppliers and service providers while fostering innovation and collaboration. We see CAST as much more than a network; it is a community that deeply understands the realities of the market and the needs of businesses. This experience is particularly valuable at a time when our sector is undergoing significant change. With CAST joining CEC, we gain a valuable perspective that strengthens the work of our national associations and further enriches the dialogue within the Confederation,” says Carmen Arias, Secretary General of CEC.

More Knowledge and Support for Members
For CAST, membership not only provides access to European knowledge and collaboration, but also enables the organisation to identify developments in Brussels at an earlier stage and translate them into practical information and support for its members. This further strengthens CAST’s role as a connecting organisation for the footwear, sports and fashion industries.

Working Together Towards a Future-Proof Footwear Industry
By joining CEC, CAST underlines its ambition to work together with national and international partners towards a strong, innovative and future-proof footwear industry.

About CEC
The European Footwear Confederation (CEC) is the voice of the European footwear industry in Brussels, representing national footwear associations and companies across Europe. CEC’s role is to ensure that the industry’s perspective is heard in the development of European policy and to help create the right conditions for a competitive, sustainable and innovative footwear sector.

European legislation is currently CEC’s main priority. CEC is actively involved in discussions on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Digital Product Passport, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), chemicals legislation, sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements.

At the same time, CEC continues to work through various European projects on international trade, industrial competitiveness, innovation, digitalisation and skills development.

One message underpins all of these activities: footwear is not textiles. Footwear is a unique product category with specific technical characteristics, and legislation needs to recognise these differences. Our goal is to ensure that new regulations support sustainability without creating unnecessary administrative burdens, particularly for SMEs, which form the backbone of our sector.