As the fashion industry grows, sustainability becomes more important. Increasingly, people want to know where their products come from and who makes them. They’re becoming more aware of how the things they buy affect people and the planet.
According to a 2018 report by Quantas, in the last decade, the apparel industry’s climate change impacts have increased by 35% and are predicted to keep going up. Today, an average American generates 82 pounds (37 kilograms) of textile waste every year, contributing to landfill overuse.
Because of this, companies in the fashion and textiles industry are being pushed to take responsibility for social and environmental issues. Simply claiming to be sustainable isn’t enough anymore—customers want real proof.
That’s where the Higg FEM Index comes in. In this article, we’ll talk about what the Higg FEM does, what industries it covers, how to get Higg FEM verification, Higg Fem audits and how we can help.
What is the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM)?
So what is Higg FEM? The Higg FEM is a set of tools that helps measure the environmental and social impact of making products, from tracking carbon emissions to checking if factory workers are treated fairly. By using the Higg FEM Index, brands, retailers, and manufacturers can share reliable data, work together, and make real progress in sustainability.
Every phase of the production process is captured, from water use to waste management to chemical and energy use. This helps identify weak spots and reduces risk. Note that the Higg FEM isn’t a pass/fail assessment, but a tool for identifying improvement opportunities.
What does the Higg FEM evaluate?
The Higg FEM looks at several key areas to identify where improvements can be made:
Environmental Management Systems
Assesses how well the factory handles environmental issues.
Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Measures how much energy the factory uses and how much greenhouse gas it emits, to improve energy efficiency.
Water Use
Monitors how much water the factory uses to cut down on waste.
Wastewater
Makes sure wastewater gets treated properly before it’s released from the factory.
Air Emissions
Makes sure factory emissions are within legal and safe limits.
Waste Management
Looks at how the factory handles waste to reduce it and maximize recycling.
Chemical Management
Makes sure the factory uses and handles chemicals safely.
By examining these areas, the Higg FEM helps factories understand their environmental impact and find ways to operate more sustainably.
Which products are covered by Higg FEM
Figuring out if your products fall under the scope of Higg FEM is fairly straightforward. During the Higg FEM application, you have to pick the product category (like clothes, shoes, or toys), the materials used, and the processes they follow (like printing, dyeing, or sewing).
Here are the options you can choose from:
Product Categories:
- Apparel
- Footwear
- Home Textiles (e.g., bed linens, towels)
- Accessories (e.g., bags, jewelry)
- Home Furnishings
- Electronics
- Toys
- Outdoor Sporting Goods – Soft goods (e.g., tents, backpacks)
- Outdoor Sporting Goods – Hard Goods (e.g., bikes, coolers)
- Packaging
Material Categories:
- Barriers
- Foams
- Insulation Materials
- Leather
- Metals
- Plastics
- Rubbers
- Textiles
- Wood-Biomass Based
- Synthetic Leathers
- Chemicals
- Fiber (natural or man-made)
Facility Processes
- Based on your facility type, you’ll select all the applicable processes.
Industry Sectors:
- Apparel
- Footwear
- Home Textiles
- Accessories
- Home Furnishings
- Electronics
- Toys
- Outdoor Sporting Goods (Soft and Hard Goods)
As an example of how this process works lets take, for instance, a backpack factory. The first thing they do is select the Outdoor Sporting Goods – Soft Goods category, since backpacks are soft products with textiles. Then they pick textiles (for the fabric), plastics (for zippers and buckles), and foams (for padded straps).
Once that’s done, they identify the processes they use, like sewing and product printing. Then they pick outdoor sporting goods as their industry. The factory now knows that their backpacks are covered by Higg FEM and identifies areas to improve for better environmental compliance.
Higg FEM vs Higg FSLM
A Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) measures environmental performance, while a Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) measures social and labor conditions.
Higg FEM (Environmental Module)
- Looks at a companies environmental impact across energy, water, waste, and chemical use.
- Total score and detailed performance across seven environmental categories.
Higg FSLM (Social & Labor Module)
- Conducts an assessment of wages, hours, safety, and treatment of employees.
- Looks at the the social impact of a facility and provides detailed reports.
Higg FEM 4.0 updates
How is the Higg FEM scored
Higg FEM scores track your progress through three levels and gives you an overall score. The first level covers basic stuff like following rules and keeping track of emissions. The next level is about setting goals and improving, while the third level focuses on advanced actions and helping the community.
There are 100 points in each section, 25 for Level 1, 50 for Level 2, and 25 for Level 3. You have to finish Level 1 before you move up. There are some questions that don’t count, but missing things like permits or licenses can lead to a zero. Bonus points can be earned if a facility hits its energy, water, or waste goals.
Once the Higg FEM assessment is complete, facilities receive several detailed reports to help understand their performance and identify areas for improvement:
- An overall FEM score, along with scores for each section.
- The areas of opportunity report highlights questions that were answered negatively, grading them in terms of importance or improvement potential, with recommendations.
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report Contains data on emissions and renewable energy use.
These reports can be accessed via the Scores, GHG Emissions, or Areas of Opportunity pages, offering actionable insights to enhance environmental sustainability.
Difference between Higg FEM Self assessment and Higg FEM verification
There are many differences between Higg FEM self-assessments and Higg FEM verification.
Higg FEM Self applications come first and are different from the verification process.
In a Higg FEM self-application, you fill out the form yourself or for your company; in a verification, a third party verifies that you filled it out correctly.
Once your Higg FEM self-application is done, you can review the data and reports that are generated and share your FEM self- assessment with your partners.
But, at this point you can also go one step further and do a Higg FEM verification (vFEM).
How to get Higg FEM Verified (step by step)
Getting Higg FEM verified starts with first, setting up an account, and completing a self-application.
- Complete and post self-assessment, and purchase the Higg FEM Verification (vFEM).
- Choose which Higg FEM verification body you would like to work with.
- You’re assigned a verifier by the verification body.
- A time is arranged for on-site or off-site verification, and the verifier fills out the vFEM.
- You then have 14 days to review and dispute anything in the vFEM assessment before it’s finalized. After the vFEM status changes to VRF, brands will be able to view the information.
Advantages of being Higg FEM Verified
There are many benefits of Higg FEM verification. The Higg FEM verification process allows you to verify your results with a professional verification body. Having a Higg FEM verification is a respected industry standard which shows you’ve got a green supply chain, so you’ll be able to sign contracts with future stakeholders easier.
It also means you can share your results with business partners instead of doing separate verfications for each one, saving you time and money.
As an approved partner of the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), HQTS offers audit and training services to review your self-assessment, confirm the data’s accuracy, and identify areas for improvement.
Our team makes sure your environmental performance is credible and reliable.
Types of Verification Services Offered by HQTS
Onsite Verification
One of our verifiers visits your facility to conduct the verification in person. Choose this option if you want to share your Higg Index scores publicly.
Offsite Verification
Use this option if you only want to share scores privately with supply chain partners through the Worldly platform, not publicly.
Choose HQTS Higg FEM verification
We’re your go-to partner for verification of your self-assessment using the Higg Facility Management Module. With years of experience in the apparel, footwear, and textile industries, we provide a one-stop solution.
Your documents will be reviewed by our trained specialist, checks will be done on or off-site, Higg scores calculated, and results will be verified before publication.
Getting all the answers to your Higg FEM verification questions has never been easier. Contact our team today.
