CAST and GS1 Netherlands take the first step toward a sustainable footwear industry

“CAST started in 1984 as a trade center for the footwear sector and subsequently grew into a complete trading platform for the footwear, sports, and fashion industries. Since 2025, CAST has increasingly developed into a trade association for suppliers in these sectors, with the aim of stimulating collaboration and growth. In addition to facilitating trade, CAST is focusing more and more on connection, advocacy, and international matchmaking,” says Wessel Delfgou, business developer at CAST.

At present, CAST has around 100 members representing 500 different brands. These include Dutch footwear manufacturers, as well as agents representing brands from Italy, Portugal, Germany, and other countries. In recent years, CAST has increasingly evolved into an industry association representing the interests of these suppliers in the footwear, sports, and fashion sectors. “A lot is coming at our members, particularly in the area of legislation,” Delfgou explains. “Because the voice of the supplier is not sufficiently represented, we want to take on that role—not only within the Netherlands, but across Europe.”

Sharing product data
One example of new legislation is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which contains information on the origin, composition, use, maintenance, reuse, and recycling of consumer products. By introducing the DPP, the European Union aims to extend product lifespans and stimulate the circular economy. To prepare the footwear industry for this, CAST is working together with GS1 Netherlands.

“For the implementation of the DPP, it is essential that organizations in the footwear industry gain insight into the availability and quality of their product data. To make data sharing throughout the supply chain more efficient, it is important to work on standardizing product data across the entire chain. Together with GS1 Netherlands, we want to accelerate this process and create awareness. We want to make it clear within the industry why embracing and promoting this vision contributes to a sustainable footwear industry in the long term,” Delfgou explains.

GS1, like CAST, is a not-for-profit organization that provides products and services worldwide for identifying products and sharing product data. From the very beginning, GS1 has supported businesses in setting up the DPP, with the QR Code powered by GS1 serving as the means to unlock the information contained in the DPP. “We are pleased to collaborate with organizations such as CAST that represent a large number of companies and have the intrinsic motivation to make the industry more efficient and sustainable through the sharing of product data,” says Jeanet van der Stoel, sector lead textile & apparel at GS1 Netherlands.

Still much to gain
The clothing and textile industry is one of the first sectors that—during the course of 2029—will be required to equip every product with a DPP. Although footwear is not yet formally included, CAST and GS1 want to get started already. “Sooner or later, the footwear industry will also have its turn,” Delfgou says. “It may sound blunt, but our industry is not yet prepared for that. As an organization, we see and hear this from our members every day. There is still a lot to gain in terms of digitalization and data sharing. We want to get the industry moving.”

Both Delfgou and Van der Stoel point to an initiative from 2020 aimed at creating a standard data model for the fashion industry. CAST was one of the participants in that project. “That data model was indeed developed at the time, but it was ultimately not embraced by the market,” Van der Stoel says. “However, over the past few years we have noticed that the textile industry—particularly because of DPP legislation—does in fact need a standard data model specifying what data must be shared and in what way. Within GS1, we have set up an international working group for this purpose. Together with CAST, we want to extend that initiative to the footwear industry.”

Mapping out the need
CAST and GS1 want to use research to determine where the footwear industry currently stands. What data is already being recorded? How do organizations obtain that data? And how strong is the need for standardization in the way that data is recorded?

“Only once we understand the need can we start discussing with the industry how to establish a standard data model,” says Van der Stoel. “Once that data model is available, we can work toward one standard system for sharing product data. That is the first step toward a sustainable footwear industry.”

It is essential to bring the footwear industry along into this new future. “That is in the interest of the entire footwear industry, but at the same time it is also the biggest challenge,” Delfgou says. “It is up to us to demonstrate that standardizing product data leads to cost savings, efficiency, and reduced time. And as mentioned, it also makes the implementation of the DPP much easier.”

Joining forces in Europe for greater impact
Developing a standard data model is a European matter, Delfgou emphasizes. “That is why we are actively seeking contact with other stakeholders across Europe. Over the past two years, CAST has intensified its contacts with European footwear federations, based on the idea of strengthening cooperation at the European level as well. Together we are stronger and represent a large part of the European footwear industry.”

Van der Stoel adds that CAST and GS1 are also working together in this area. Earlier this year, CAST organized an important meeting with European stakeholders during MICAM in Milan, where GS1 spoke on this topic. Van der Stoel and her Italian colleague represented GS1, while Delfgou, together with the chairman of the board and CAST management, formed the Dutch delegation.

“Within GS1, we see that making joint agreements on data sharing leads to closer collaboration across the entire footwear industry,” says Van der Stoel. “That is why we are trying to get the entire footwear industry in Europe moving. Together, we can create more impact.”

More about CAST
CAST is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 and operates as a member-driven and professionally managed association within the footwear, sports, and fashion industry. The organization focuses on connecting suppliers, buyers, and other stakeholders in order to stimulate collaboration and growth. CAST is involved in stakeholder management between suppliers and buyers in Europe, organizes (purchasing) events for the Benelux market, and facilitates networking at the European level. In addition, CAST plays an advocacy role in the Netherlands, offers international matchmaking, and develops digital solutions to support the sector.

For more information, visit www.cast.nl.