#Sustainability

2023-01-05

Sustainable Apparel Coalition launches Higg Facility Environmental Module 4.0 Technical Paper

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), an independent and impact-creating organization that brings together around half of the apparel industry to enable positive social and environmental impact at scale, has today published its Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) 4.0 Technical Paper (“the Paper”). The Higg FEM 4.0 will be officially released in November 2023, but, to provide transparency to users and to allow them to prepare for the new version, the SAC is giving access to the Higg FEM 4.0 content through the Paper, which is now available on the SAC website.

The Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) 4.0 will continue to be a sustainability assessment tool that standardizes how facilities measure and evaluate their environmental performance, year-over-year. It facilitates conversations among value chain partners to improve sustainability in every tier of the global value chain, and empowers them to identify, prioritize and scale sustainability efforts.

The latest version of the Higg FEM is based on member feedback collected during the latest version cycle, and includes feedback from brands, retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other international organizations. This work has included reviewing tool feedback, the FEM framework, FEM scoring methodology, FEM question content, and much more.

Major changes in Higg FEM 4.0 include:

New questions on phasing out coal and other fossil fuels and on using renewable energy and Science-Based Targets have been added

Questions around wastewater sludge management have been added, and these are aligned with Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) guidance

Questions aligning with Scope 1 & Scope 2 GHG Emission calculations per GHG Protocol have been included

Categorization of refrigerant gasses has been enhanced to accurately calculate GHG emissions from potential leakages

Questions around groundwater management and usage are now included, including tracking consumption and meeting legally-mandated groundwater extraction limits

Facilities that manufacture final, finished products and fabric in the same facility will need to track and report their energy and water consumption data separately.

Jeremy Lardeau, VP, Higg Index at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, said: “The release of this technical paper and the changes we have made to the Higg FEM are a huge milestone for the SAC and industry at large, and are a testament to our commitment to collaborate with experts and collect feedback so as to improve our tools to drive greater impact. Only through these joint efforts can we radically transform the industry and play our part in addressing the climate crisis.”

Delman Lee, Vice Chair at TAL Apparel, and SAC Board Chair, said: “As a collective action coalition, representing half of the apparel, footwear and textile sector, the SAC has a pivotal role to play in helping to move the industry forward and in tackling the climate crisis. And, as a manufacturer, we welcome the release of this technical paper and believe the latest Higg FEM version will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our climate goals.”

The new requirements for the Higg FEM will be implemented from 2023 and the updated tool will be released on the Higg platform in November 2023 for facilities to work on their self-assessment for the performance year 2023, with content training planned throughout 2023 to provide users a better understanding of the tool.

Through this update, the SAC has also enhanced the applicability methodology in FEM 4.0, allowing facilities across multiple industry sectors and tiers to evaluate their environmental performance in an effective manner. The questions developed have been built specifically to cater for additional industry sectors, such as the outdoor sporting and hardgoods facilities, as well as facilities that produce man-made cellulose fibers, etc.

The Higg FEM, which was built collectively with industry stakeholders, was first publicly released in 2012 and has undergone several updates over the years, with SAC members providing valuable knowledge that has informed methodology updates. This has ensured the tool is relevant, scalable and successful in solving the most pressing environmental issues.

Experts publish APAC policy priorities

Cascale today announced the publication of its APAC Policy Priorities Paper, developed by the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Policy Member Expert Team (MET) to identify key regional sustainability challenges and provide practical, aligned recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders across Asia-Pacific.

Cascale Forum: Colombo convenes 500+ manufacturers brands, and stakeholders to advance capacity building and collaboration across the consumer goods industry

Cascale today announced program details for Cascale Forum: Colombo, taking place March 30–April 1, 2026 in Sri Lanka. Building on the success of the 2025 Forum in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, this gathering will convene manufacturers, brands, retailers, NGOs, policymakers, and solution providers under the theme “Action by Design: Accelerating a Fairer, More Resilient Value Chain.”

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

Indovinya advances sustainable solutions with agreement for the supply of renewable Oxygen from Air Liquide

Indovinya, the specialty chemicals and surfactants division of Indorama Ventures, has entered into an agreement with Air Liquide — a world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare — for the supply of renewable oxygen. The agreement represents a strategic advancement in Indovinya’s commitment to sustainability, as it increases the share of renewable raw materials in the production of ethylene oxide, one of its key products.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

C&S strengthens its governance to support its evolution

C&S announces the appointment of Marco Lucietti to its Board of Directors. With extensive international experience across the textile and denim industries, Lucietti will work alongside CEO Federico Corneli, contributing to the company’s managerial development, organizational structure and long-term strategic direction.