Apparel brands and retailers need to report on 2024 performance to comply with regulations such as CSRD. This means they will look to their manufacturers to help them deliver the necessary data. Gathering this information in a structured way is no mean feat, but for facilities that are innovating and committing to sustainable manufacturing, sharing these efforts with brand partners is a surefire way to stay competitive. 

Aligned with global frameworks

The Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM), developed and owned by global nonprofit alliance Cascale, is the most widely used assessment for environmental performance within consumer goods supply chains. Introduced last November on Worldly, the most recent version of the assessment, Higg FEM 4.0, provides improved data accuracy and is better aligned with global frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the Science Based Targets Initiative, and the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero. 

Tailored to your facility’s operations

Facility operations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The Higg FEM evaluates seven areas to measure the environmental impact of a facility, and the questions you need to answer depend on how your facility operates. 

The impact areas:

• Environmental Management System
• Energy/Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Water
• Waste
• Wastewater
• Air Emissions
• Chemicals Management

The Higg FEM assessment tailors questions to your facility’s operations: 

• When completing the Water section, the Higg FEM will categorize your facility as a low or high water user, or a facility located in an area of low or high water risk, based on the amount of water it uses. You will only answer questions according to your water consumption. 
• When completing the Air Emissions section, the assessment will categorize your facility emissions based on output from operations, production, refrigerants, man made cellulosic fibers or no emissions at all. You will only answer questions related to your emissions outputs.

The same process is applied across the Energy, Wastewater, Chemicals and other sections. This personalization not only saves you time, it also provides a more accurate environmental impact score based on how your facility uniquely operates. 

Why your facility needs environmental data

Facilities that use the Higg FEM have the data they need to navigate today’s complex sustainability landscape with confidence. The assessment provides you with a comprehensive view of your environmental impacts to easily:

• Collaborate and track corporate sustainability goals.
• Prepare for emerging sustainability regulations.
• Identify areas for improvement.

It can take up to six weeks to complete a self-assessment that evaluates your prior year’s impact and performance. Start today. 

Together, Worldly and Cascale, are committed to providing the consumer goods industry the solutions needed to meet the most pressing sustainability challenges today and meet the expectations of stakeholders, including consumers, regulatory bodies, investors, and executives.