The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) has published its Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) 4.0 Technical Paper.
- The Higg FEM 4.0 will be officially released in November 2023.
- To provide transparency to users and to allow them to prepare for the new version, the SAC is giving access to the Higg FEM 4.0 content through the Paper, which is now available on the SAC website.
What's New in This Version: Major changes in Higg FEM 4.0 include:
- New questions on phasing out coal and other fossil fuels and on using renewable energy and Science-Based Targets have been added;
- Questions around wastewater sludge management have been added, and these are aligned with Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) guidance;
- Questions aligning with Scope 1 & Scope 2 GHG Emission calculations per GHG Protocol have been included;
- Categorisation of refrigerant gases has been enhanced to accurately calculate GHG emissions from potential leakages;
- Questions around groundwater management and usage are now included, incorporating also tracking consumption and meeting legally-mandated groundwater extraction limits;
- Facilities that manufacture final, finished products and fabric in the same facility will need to track and report their energy and water consumption data separately.
The latest version of the Higg FEM is based on member feedback collected during the latest version cycle, and includes feedback from brands, retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other international organisations. This work has included reviewing tool feedback, the FEM framework, FEM scoring methodology, FEM question content, and much more.
What They Said:
The release of this technical paper and the changes we have made to the Higg FEM are a huge milestone for the SAC and industry at large, and are a testament to our commitment to collaborate with experts and collect feedback so as to improve our tools to drive greater impact. Only through these joint efforts can we radically transform the industry and play our part in addressing the climate crisis.
— Jeremy Lardeau
VP, Higg Index
Sustainable Apparel Coalition
As a collective action coalition, representing half of the apparel, footwear and textile sector, the SAC has a pivotal role to play in helping to move the industry forward and in tackling the climate crisis. And, as a manufacturer, we welcome the release of this technical paper and believe the latest Higg FEM version will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our climate goals.”
— Delman Lee
Chair / Vice Chair
SAC Board / TAL Apparel
The Plans: The new requirements for the Higg FEM will be implemented from 2023 and the updated tool will be released on the Higg platform in November 2023 for facilities to work on their self-assessment for the performance year 2023, with content training planned throughout 2023 to provide users a better understanding of the tool.
- The SAC claims to have enhanced the applicability methodology in FEM 4.0, allowing facilities across multiple industry sectors and tiers to evaluate their environmental performance in an effective manner.
- The questions developed have been built specifically to cater for additional industry sectors, such as the outdoor sporting and hardgoods facilities, as well as facilities that produce man-made cellulose fibres, etc.
The Background: The Higg FEM, which was built collectively with industry stakeholders, was first publicly released in 2012 and has undergone several updates over the years, with SAC members providing valuable knowledge that has informed methodology updates. This has ensured the tool is relevant, scalable and successful in solving the most pressing environmental issues.
