THE HIGG INDEX

The Higg Index is a suite of tools and resources developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to measure and assess the environmental and social impacts of products and companies within the apparel, footwear, and textile industry. It provides a standardized framework for evaluating and improving sustainability performance throughout the supply chain.

The Higg Index consists of three main modules:

Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM): This module enables manufacturers, factories, and facilities to assess their environmental performance by evaluating factors such as energy use, water consumption, waste management, and greenhouse gas emissions. It helps identify areas for improvement and promotes more sustainable practices within production facilities.

Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM): The BRM allows brands and retailers to evaluate and benchmark their sustainability efforts. It assesses areas such as product design, materials sourcing, manufacturing processes, and social and labor practices. It provides insights into the sustainability performance of brands and enables them to make informed decisions to enhance their sustainability practices.

Higg Product Module (PM): The PM focuses on assessing the environmental and social impacts of individual products. It considers factors such as material sourcing, chemical management, product lifecycle, and end-of-life considerations. The module provides a comprehensive evaluation of product sustainability, enabling companies to make more sustainable product design and sourcing decisions.

The Higg Index provides a common language and set of metrics that enable companies to measure, compare, and improve their sustainability performance. It helps identify hotspots, set sustainability targets, and track progress over time. By implementing the Higg Index, companies can reduce their environmental footprint, improve supply chain transparency, and drive positive social and environmental change in the industry.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which manages the Higg Index, is a global alliance of brands, retailers, manufacturers, and NGOs working together to improve the sustainability of the apparel and footwear industry. The Higg Index has gained widespread adoption and has become a widely recognized and respected tool in the industry for assessing and advancing sustainability practices.