Cascale has released version 3.11 of its Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI), expanding data coverage for cotton and home materials while refining modelling for nylon, polyester and leather. The update, the organisation claimed, enhances material impact accuracy and supports more transparent, evidence-driven decision-making across sectors, reinforcing Cascale’s role as a leading convener for data-driven sustainability in consumer goods.
- Expanded cotton datasets build on Cascale’s recent methodological work, aligning industry stakeholders on credible, comparable impact measurement standards and reducing reliance on costly full life-cycle assessments for routine material evaluation.
- The tool is updated twice yearly to keep background datasets current, ensuring users compare materials using the latest energy and raw-material inventories and interpret any resulting shifts in calculated impact scores.
- Exclusively hosted on Worldly, the Higg MSI centralises access for brands and manufacturers, streamlining adoption and supporting transparent, evidence-driven decision-making across apparel, home furnishings and other consumer-goods categories.
INSIDE THE UPDATE: The latest update to Higg MSI adds fresh cotton datasets and broadens coverage to include home-furnishing materials while updating modelling for key fibres such as nylon and polyester. The release expands data coverage and reinforces Cascale’s push for transparent, data-driven decision-making across global consumer-goods supply chains.
- The Higg MSI v3.11 adds mineral-based materials such as glass ceramic, porcelain and container glass for the home sector.
- Updated datasets align with Cascale’s Cotton LCA methodology, strengthening comparability across materials and reducing data gaps.
- The update builds on assets acquired from the Sustainable Furnishings Council to extend Cascale’s framework beyond apparel into home furnishings.
INSIDE THE MODELLING: Cascale’s Higg MSI incorporates revised modelling for nylon, polyester and leather, harmonised with the latest LCA for Experts database. These updates refine impact calculations and improve comparability between materials, with expected score variations of about ten per cent arising from new background datasets for energy and raw-material inputs.
- The framework reduces dependence on costly full LCA reports by clearly defining which primary data are required, which secondary datasets are acceptable, and how assumptions must be documented in the final model.
- Updated metrics and harmonised modelling rules now allow brands and manufacturers to evaluate materials with greater comparability, confidence and transparency in science-based impact reporting.
CONNECTING THE DOTS: The Higg MSI update illustrates how collaborative data efforts are deepening sustainability measurement across sectors beyond apparel. Cascale’s partnerships with groups such as the Better Cotton Initiative and the Sustainable Furnishings Council reinforce an integrated approach to verified data collection, shared methodologies and stronger accountability throughout global consumer-goods supply networks.
- Cascale’s collaboration model connects a wide network of global brands, suppliers, academics and nonprofits.
- Ongoing alignment through the Higg MSI Change Log encourages transparent updates and continuous tool refinement for all industry members.
WHAT THEY SAID
With this update, we’re advancing a more comprehensive, data-driven understanding of material impacts across sectors. The improved cotton datasets address a long-standing data gap and represent the power of collective work to strengthen the industry’s access to credible, comparable information.
— Jeremy Lardeau
Vice President, Higg Index
Cascale
Reliable data is the foundation of responsible sourcing. Continued evolution of the Higg MSI represents progress toward a stronger value chain for the home furnishings and wider consumer goods industry.
— Scarlette Tapp
Executive Director
Sustainable Furnishings Council
Improving access to farm-level data supports hotspot analysis and can help key stakeholders, especially brand members, in their science-based reporting and evaluation of their selected materials. Working with Cascale to increase data availability following an industry-aligned methodology, particularly from smallholder contexts, strengthens collaboration with our brand partners.
— Miguel Gómez-Escolar Viejo
Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Better Cotton Initiative
