Key Sustainability Insights from the WHMA Global Leadership Summit

By Kelly Scanlon, Lead Sustainability Strategist, Global Electronics Association

Key Summary

• Sustainability compliance is expanding beyond core regulations, increasing focus on conflict minerals, forced labor, and global policy alignment.
• Sustainability data management has become strategic, with companies facing fragmented systems across multiple regulatory frameworks.
• Industry seeks stronger engagement with policymakers to align regulations with real-world manufacturing challenges.
• Operational execution remains critical, from circular materials management to day-to-day sustainability decisions.
• Collaboration, critical materials, and workforce readiness are growing concerns across the wire and cable supply chain.

At WHMA’s Annual Global Leadership Summit, I represented Evolve and co-hosted a Best Practice Roundtable on Managing Sustainability Compliance and Reporting Requirements with Mark Rogers, senior product stewardship coordinator for Southwire’s wire and cable products.

The roundtable included industry leaders for an open, practical discussion on the realities of sustainability compliance today, and what’s needed next. In addition to the roundtable, my conversations with exhibitors on the show floor offered a broader view of how sustainability is showing up across the wire and cable supply chain.

Here are my key takeaways from both.

1. Sustainability compliance is expanding beyond the “core” regulations

Roundtable participants were well-versed in major regulatory obligations affecting WHMA members, and those requirements served as a helpful starting point for discussion. Many participants expressed interest in better understanding how additional policies, such as conflict minerals and forced labor regulations, apply to their operations. Just as important, they emphasized the need for stronger advocacy and more consistent engagement with policymakers, particularly as requirements continue to evolve across regions.

2. Data management is now a strategic issue, not just a reporting task

One of the strongest themes from the roundtable was the growing challenge of managing sustainability data. Companies are navigating multiple compliance obligations, RoHS, REACH, TSCA, and others, often with fragmented systems and inconsistent data exchange across the supply chain.

Participants are looking for more efficient ways to share data upstream and downstream, not only to meet compliance requirements but also to inform smarter decisions about materials, product design, and manufacturing processes.

3. Industry wants more direct dialogue with policymakers

Attendees noted the value of having policymakers present at industry events or dedicated forums. The goal isn’t just compliance, it’s dialogue.

An open exchange of ideas between regulators and manufacturers could help ensure that requirements align with real-world manufacturing constraints while advancing shared sustainability goals.

4. Practical sustainability challenges still matter

While policy and data dominated much of the discussion, participants also raised very tangible, operational topics. One example was the management of reels and spools used to ship cable, and how to ensure these materials are handled responsibly at the end of use and integrated into more circular systems.

These kinds of issues underscore that sustainability is often won or lost in day-to-day operational decisions.

5. On the show floor, sustainability is “business as usual.”

Conversations with exhibitors in the exhibit hall revealed an important shift: sustainability is no longer a buzzword. It is simply part of how companies do business.

That said, challenges remain. Exhibitors pointed to differences between European and U.S. requirements, noting the need for improved communication between policymakers and industry. They also highlighted a common misconception: while customers often dictate product requirements, suppliers still have influence over material and chemical choices, and that influence isn’t always fully recognized or exercised.

6. Collaboration, materials, and workforce readiness are rising concerns

Exhibitors consistently emphasized the need for stronger collaboration across the supply chain. There is progress, but also clear room for improvement, especially as companies face growing pressure on critical minerals, such as silver, where costs and availability are increasingly uncertain.

Labor costs, workforce health and safety, and the complexity of serving customers across multiple countries with varying documentation and certification needs were also top of mind. While software tools are essential, they are only as effective as the people using them. Workforce training, particularly around understanding, managing, and communicating sustainability data, is becoming just as critical as the technology itself.

Moving forward

What stood out most from the Summit was the shared recognition that sustainability today is less about intention and more about execution. Companies are navigating a complex landscape of regulations, data demands, and operational realities, and they’re eager for clearer guidance, better tools, and stronger collaboration.

Events like WHMA’s Global Leadership Summit create space for exactly these conversations, reminding us that progress on sustainability compliance and reporting doesn’t happen in isolation, but it happens through dialogue, shared learning, and collective action across the industry.