Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM)
Higg FEM is the sustainable apparel industry's standard tool for measuring facility environmental performance across water, energy, chemicals, waste, and emissions.
Higg FEM (Facility Environmental Module) is the industry-standard tool for measuring environmental performance of textile and apparel facilities, used by tens of thousands of facilities globally. It was developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which rebranded as Cascale in February 2024; Cascale stewards the Higg Index methodology, while the platform hosting the assessments is operated by Worldly (formerly Higg Co).
Higg FEM assesses seven areas: environmental management systems, energy use and GHG emissions, water use, wastewater, emissions to air, waste management, chemicals management. Each area is scored 0-100. Verified assessments require third-party audit.
Major brands (Nike, H&M, Target, Zara, Decathlon) require Higg FEM scores from their suppliers. Low scores can mean loss of orders. High scores (80+) unlock preferred supplier status and premium pricing.
Vastra ERP's sustainability module captures all Higg FEM data points automatically from operational data — water meter readings, electricity consumption, chemical inventory — and generates submission-ready Higg FEM reports. Manual data collection for Higg FEM typically takes 40+ hours; automated it takes under 1 hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Higg FEM?
The Higg Facility Environmental Module is a standardised assessment of a textile or apparel facility's environmental performance. It is one of the Higg Index tools and is used by tens of thousands of facilities worldwide.
Who owns and runs Higg FEM?
The Higg Index was developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which rebranded as Cascale in February 2024. Cascale stewards the methodology, while the technology platform that hosts the assessments is operated by Worldly, formerly Higg Co.
What does Higg FEM measure?
Seven areas: environmental management systems, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, water use, wastewater, emissions to air, waste management, and chemicals management. Each area is scored, and a verified assessment requires third-party audit.
Why do brands ask suppliers for a Higg FEM score?
Major buyers use the score to compare facilities on environmental performance. A weak score can cost a supplier orders, while a strong score can support preferred-supplier status, so the assessment has direct commercial consequences.
How long does a Higg FEM submission take to prepare?
Collecting the data by hand from meter readings, utility bills and chemical inventories commonly takes several working days. Where the underlying figures already exist as operational records, most of the module can be populated directly from those systems.
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