The Higg Index is the Sustainable Apparel Coalition's suite of tools for measuring environmental and social performance across the apparel and footwear supply chain. Unlike certification standards such as GOTS or SEDEX — which are pass/fail assessments — the Higg Index is a measurement and benchmarking framework that produces quantified performance scores.
What is the Sustainable Apparel Coalition?
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is a non-profit alliance of apparel brands, retailers, manufacturers and NGOs working to reduce the environmental and social impact of apparel production. Members include brands such as H&M, Nike, Patagonia, Target, Gap and hundreds of others. The Higg Index tools were developed by the SAC as a shared framework for measuring supply chain sustainability performance consistently across the industry.
The Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM)
The most relevant Higg tool for brands evaluating manufacturers is the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM). The FEM measures a manufacturing facility's environmental performance across six areas:
- Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions — electricity and fuel consumption, renewable energy use
- Water use — total water intake, water recycling rate
- Wastewater — treatment processes, discharge quality
- Emissions to air — boiler emissions, chemical vapours
- Waste management — total waste generated, recycling and disposal rates
- Chemical management — restricted substance compliance, chemical storage and handling
Each area is scored. The total FEM score allows comparison between facilities and year-on-year improvement tracking for the same facility.
How Higg FEM Data is Used
ESG and CSRD Reporting
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to report Scope 3 supply chain emissions and environmental data. A manufacturer's Higg FEM score — particularly energy use and GHG emissions data — can be incorporated directly into your Scope 3 calculations. This is actual measured data, not estimates, which strengthens your sustainability reporting significantly.
Supplier Benchmarking
Higg FEM scores allow brands to compare environmental performance between multiple suppliers objectively. A manufacturer with a verified Higg FEM score demonstrates measurable environmental commitment — not just a policy statement.
When evaluating manufacturers, ask for their Higg FEM score and the year it was conducted. A manufacturer that cannot provide a Higg FEM score either does not participate or scores poorly — both relevant signals for ESG-focused brands.
Higg vs Certification Standards
Higg is a measurement tool, not a certification. It does not pass or fail — it scores. This makes it complementary to rather than a replacement for GOTS, GRS, SEDEX and BSCI. A complete supplier compliance picture includes: ethical trade certification (SEDEX SMETA), social compliance (BSCI), product certifications (GOTS, GRS) and environmental performance measurement (Higg FEM).