Regulatory developments, trade policy uncertainty and evolving retail strategies were among the topics explored during additional Inspiration Theater sessions at The Inspired Home Show 2026.
Speakers discussed PFAS regulation affecting cookware, the fluid outlook for tariffs and how retailers can strengthen consumer engagement through innovation, storytelling and digital integration.
PFAS Regulation and Cookware Policy Developments
In the session, “Legislative Update: PFAS & More,” a panel of experts reviewed developments, including recent developments in California and New Mexico, suggesting that discussion of the issue has reached a new phase that takes a broader perspective on regulation, particularly as applied to cookware.
Fran Attilio of the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance, Tom Lee of law firm Latham & Watkins, Tobias Gerfin of Kuhn Rikon and Steve Burns of the Cookware Sustainability Alliance reviewed multiple developments in the United States and beyond as PFAS continues to be a critical issue.
After potential bans on nonstick cookware using fluoropolymers were turned aside in California and New Mexico, the outlook is that states considering legislation on broad PFAS bans will take a broader perspective on the issue, including that PFAS is actually a broad range of chemicals with a wide variety of properties. Attilio pointed out that the science underlying CBA’s campaign that non-stick cookware using fluoropolymers is not a health hazard is getting a hearing.
In Europe, Gerfin emphasized that no country has banned the kind of non-stick cookware that has been the subject of controversy. Rather, consideration of PFAS-related restrictions continues to be reviewed by the European Chemicals Agency. Although there are several dates associated with the review, Gerfin said the reality is that restrictions may be imposed in 2029, with a following 18-month transition period as European Union members consider and approve any regulation. He noted that significant opposition to a broad PFAS ban exists, so politicians continue to look at the issue.
Burns pointed out that in the United States, CSA has been entering states to emphasize the science behind fluoropolymers and the determination that they don’t pose a health threat. CSA was launched in June, 2024, asserting that “not a single state in the United States has passed a cookware ban since we started engaging,” Burns said.
Although fluoropolymers are used extensively in medical devices and the automotive industry, they are products of chemical companies; those industries are powerful and have resources at the ready to oppose efforts to ban targeted chemicals in their operations. Before CBA and CSA began their initiatives to oppose bans against fluoropolymers in food prep tools, cookware was an easier target, the panelists noted, as the industry was not prepared to mount an aggressive defense. Advocates who want broad PFAS bans also recognize that cookware is an emotional issue, and so it’s easy to capture consumer attention, and that of legislators, in their application for food prep products
Still, Burns said, the fight goes on, with New York serving as an arena for contention over PFAS.
Lee said the recent actions that have helped ensure cookware isn’t subject to PFAS bans, such as those in California and New Mexico, can be seen as a new chapter as the issue continues to unfold.
Lee noted that Federal attention to PFAS has ramped up, though exactly how that will play out remains uncertain. Current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposals would lessen reporting burdens regarding PFAS to a degree. However, Lee said, different agencies have different agendas, with some Food and Drug Administration and EPA actions potentially affecting industry, although nothing new looms currently. At the same time, the United States Justice Department reached out to the CBA asking about “how all these state laws are impacting your industry. Tell us what you think about them,” Lee pointed out.
Although the Justice Department’s interest hasn’t advanced at this point, Lee observed that monolithic PFAS regulations and differing state laws pose significant challenges for industry. So, it’s a good sign that the Federal government may be interested in leveling the playing field, he noted.
Still, lead and cadmium, as they appear in products including cookware, is a rising issue that Attilio noted includes potential legislation that could be a problem as considered. It needs recognition, she said, particularly as a slow start in taking a role in discussions at governmental levels proved problematic at getting in the industry side of the argument out with PFAs.
An understanding of what is being proposed regarding lead and cadmium is important.
“We need to get ahead of it,” Attilio said. “Learning from what happened with PFAS, we have to have information at the ready to arm the industry, to arm the legislatures, to share wherever.”
Burns said that moves to ban lead and cadmium or at least create impossible standards for their presence in products have gained momentum. In Washington, he said, action taken has prevented an unattainable standard from reaching the governor’s desk. However, the industry, through organizations such as CSA and CBA, must be diligent and proactive in promoting reasonable regulatory practices for cookware.
Lee said that despite some rollback in levels in Washington, that state and Minnesota used total concentration limits, not migration or exposure limits. That’s not how the FDA has typically looked at issues involving levels, Lee noted. As such, it’s important to remain aware of how legislatures are thinking about regulating lead, cadmium, and other metals used in cookware and even small electrics, he said.
Rafe Morrissey, Morrissey Strategic Partners (left); David Forgue, Barnes, Richardson & Colburn (middle); Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group (right)
Tariffs, Trade Policy and Import Uncertainty
With the import duties issue in the United States still prominent and often in flux, the Inspiration Theater session, “Tariffs in 2026 – Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed,” offered Craig Brightup of The Brightup Group, Rafe Morrissey, of Morrissey Strategic Partners and David Forgue of law firm Barnes, Richardson & Colburn to help clarify where things had settled, at least at the time of their presentation. Tariffs themselves have introduced uncertainty into the marketplace and, more recently, the prospect of refunds for International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties has made the subject even more dynamic.
Brightup made the point that the current administration in Washington is committed to tariffs and has continued seeking authority to impose them after the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA duties. The authority the administration tapped to impose 10% tariffs, which it turned, tariffs it can only maintain for 150 days without a Congressional extension, has allowed some consistency that business has sought,” Brightup said. However, ongoing duty imposition and exploration of other authorities to maintain President Trump’s trade policies and lawsuits regarding his ability to do so introduce the prospect of additional uncertainty.
If the administration chooses, it can bump the new global 10% tariff up to 15% on the same authority, and it has threatened to do so. Morrissey said that doesn’t mean tariffs will remain constant for any length of time.
In the meantime, the administration is pursuing Section 301 investigations, which can render determinations that a country’s acts, policies or practices are unfair. On that basis, the administration can impose country-specific retaliatory taxes.
Even with the fluidity of tariffs, the Court of International Trade has now determined that U.S. Customs must establish a mechanism to return IEEPA tariffs to payers, although it’s uncertain how the money will be disbursed and who will receive it. Even trying to establish a procedure and timeline for setting up a refund process is in flux due to timing and resource constraints, Forgue noted. On top of that, tariff payments, though taken immediately, are subject to a process known as liquidation, essentially the point where the government cashes in the duty it has held, which comes with its own set of rules for recovery. Multiple companies, including Costco, have filed suit to prevent their paid duties from being subject to liquidation, which could make it more difficult for them to get a refund, panelists observed.
Although the court has instructed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish a refund procedure in 45 days, it, for all intents and purposes, has wiggle room and that timeline is unlikely, Forgue said.
Eventually, though, CBP will generate a form, Forgue said, and it will be up to parties seeking refunds to complete it. Refunds won’t be automatic, he noted. Then, there could be a time bar on liquidations, after which CBP may deny a refund if a protest hasn’t been filed before the end date. “They pushed all this on (importers),” Forgue said.
Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen (left), Denise Foley (middle left), Wolfgang Gruschwitx (middle right), Scott Kohno (right)
Retail Innovation and Consumer Engagement Trends
The Inspired Home Show gia award judges Scott Kohno, Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Denise Foley were on board for the Inspiration Theater session, “Retail Trends Now: Signals from gia Winners and Expert Jury Industry Insights.” They provided views on retail trends shaping the market. By drawing on examples from gia award-winning retailers and the jurors’ industry experience, they provided perspectives on developments and trends that can lead to better consumer engagement.
Reisby Nielsen declared gia isn’t “a beauty contest. Foremost, it’s about innovation, not about money. So, size doesn’t really matter in this competition. It’s all about being innovative, and it’s really interesting to see how a small store can be fantastic. And, of course, it’s also nice to see when the retail chain that is huge really uses its power and muscles and drives innovation.”
Reisby Nielsen said merchandising and operations that engage consumers are crucial, but stores need to consider that in context, particularly in the age of e-commerce and AI. He suggested that merchants embrace and align with artificial intelligence to ensure they maintain discovery online.
Reisby Nielsen said today retail design is less about transactions and more focused on brand immersion, storytelling and exclusivity. Consumers expect more from retailers and brands than ever before, seeking personalized, memorable journeys that engage multiple senses and blur the lines between digital and in-store shopping.
Gruschwitz emphasized community and making customers feel as if they belong. He suggested building an occasion calendar to promote recurring visits and create experiences through tests, demos and personalization elements in the operation. He also believes in integrating local creators as, for example, co-hosts for events and making a point of what the store is doing to meet consumer expectations with authentic actions, real competence in how it sells and telling stories about products and other aspects of the store.
Kohno emphasized that retailers need to fully engage Gen Z by appealing to their spending habits, including their tendency to be value-conscious and research-driven: 79% wait for items to go on sale before making a purchase, and many use AI to find the best deals. Gen Zers also engage in thrift and second-hand shopping as they embrace a frugal-living aesthetic. Despite economic pressure, Gen Zers are increasing spending on nonessentials compared with the recent past, including small treats in areas such as self-care, with social media influencing their purchases, Kohno said.
At the same time, Gen Z prefers banners and brands that align with their values, especially when it comes to sustainability. Yet, their frugality sets limits on how much they’re willing to spend on eco-friendliness. That same care in spending is reducing restaurant visits as well. It’s important to keep in mind, Kohno said, that Gen Zers are digital-first and expect seamless transitions not only between physical and digital storefronts but also between mobile apps and social media.
