Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM)
Striving for continuous improvement in environmental and sustainable performance is critical for ensuring the longevity of the apparel industry.
As an approved Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) Verifier Body, Verifiers in the Eurofins CPA network of companies can conduct on-site and offsite Higg FEM Verification globally to validate and confirm the information submitted by facilities. Facilities can then share their results with brands and retailers in the supply chain to demonstrate their achievement in environmental performance.
An apparel, footwear, and textile industry that does no undue environmental harm and has a beneficial impact on its stakeholders is the core vision of the Cascale, formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC).
With that vision in mind, Cascale developed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) to offer insights for manufacturers, brands, and retailers on the environmental performance of their individual facilities, empowering them to scale their sustainability improvements.
Higg FEM Version 4.0 (For Higg FEM 2024)
The Higg FEM 2024 has been launched since November 2024. All facilities are required to report their 2024 performance under this new cadence.
Key changes that you should be aware of in Higg FEM 2024
- The verification scope is expanded to all questions within Level 1; including waste impact (quantitative) metrics in addition to energy, GHG, water, wastewater and air emissions.
- For facilities not achieving L1 in each of the sections, the L2 and L3 questions are optional within that respective section. Facilities are encouraged to answer but this will not count towards completion or scoring.
- Worldly’s Facility Data Manager (FDM) is integrated (although optional), allowing users to input data for quantitative environmental metrics monthly or quarterly, with FDM data compiling annually in Higg FEM.
Benefits of employing Higg FEM include:
- Measure and quantify the sustainability impacts of a facility
- Reduce redundancy in measuring and reporting sustainability performance
- Drive business value through reducing risk and uncovering efficiencies
- Create a common means and language to communicate sustainability to stakeholders
Higg FEM Verification provides facilities with a clearer understanding of their environmental impact, enabling them to identify and prioritise opportunities for improved performance.
Higg FEM Version 4.0 Facilities are evaluated for environmental performance in seven aspects:
- Environmental Management Systems
- Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Water Use
- Wastewater
- Emissions to Air (If Applicable)
- Waste Management
- Chemical Management
Such verification is required only once annually, removing excessive administrative work for the facilities.
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