About The Sustainable Apparel Coalition

The Sustainable Apparel Alliance (SAC) is the leading alliance for the apparel, footwear and textile industries.

This alliance has developed the Higg Index, a standardized set of value chain measurement tools for all industry participants.

These tools measure the environmental and labor impact of the value chain. With this data, industry can address inefficiencies, improve sustainability performance, and achieve the environmental and social transparency consumers are demanding. By joining forces in the Alliance, we can tackle pressing systemic challenges that cannot be changed alone.

What is higg index?

Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Alliance (SAC), the Higg Index is a toolkit that enables brands, retailers and manufacturers of all sizes - at every stage of their sustainability journey. - to accurately measure and evaluate the sustainability performance of the company or product. The Higg Index provides a comprehensive overview, empowering businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities and the environment.

Higg index gồm các tool: Higg product tools, Higg facility tools, Higg brand & retails tools

Version 1.0

The first version of the Higg Index is adapted from two previously existing sustainability metrics: the Nike Environmental Design Tool and the Eco Index developed by the Outdoor Industry Association, the European Outdoor Group and Zero Waste Coalition created.

Version 1.0 of the Higg Index was announced in July 2012.

According to Coalition CEO Jason Kibbey, the name "Higg" was inspired by the search for the Higgs Boson. The Higg name also fulfills other important criteria: it is short, easy to pronounce, and clearly trademarked in 120 countries.

In the first step, the Higg Index metric focuses on environmental factors in the apparel supply chain. Metrics relating to footwear as well as labor and social sustainability are planned for future release.

Version 2.0

On December 11, 2013, an updated version of the Higg Index was released.

Version 3.0

In November 2018, the 3rd updated version (version 3.0) of the Higg Index was released.

Introduction to Higg Facility Tools

Manufacturers use the Higg Facility Instrument to measure the social and environmental performance of their facilities.

These modules measure impact at individual plants, not the parent company as a whole. Users conduct reviews at least once a year, and these are then verified by on-site, SAC-approved reviewers. Facility-type benchmarks allow facility managers to compare their performance with that of their peers.

The Expectation Levels Question Modules provide manufacturers with clear guidance on hotspots for improvement and outline current best practices in the field. Higg's tools for manufacturing provide the opportunity for open conversations between value chain partners so that businesses at all levels of the value chain perform better.

Please refer to the link:  https://apparelcoalition.org/higg-facility-tools/

1. Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM)

The environmental costs of making and wearing clothing are quite high. To make a typical pair of jeans can take nearly 2,000 gallons of water and 400 megajoules of energy. Once purchased, caring for the same pair of jeans throughout its lifespan can result in more than 30 kg of carbon dioxide being emitted. That's the equivalent of running a garden hose for two hours, driving 78 miles, or powering a computer for 556 hours.

The Higg FEM measures (The Higg FEM measures):

- Environmental management systems

- Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

- Water use

- Wastewater (Wastewater)

- Emissions to air (if applicable)

- Waste management (Waste management)

- Chemical use and management

SAC recently released an updated version of this tool. It introduces improved sustainability assessment capabilities. By directing questions specifically to facility outputs, it provides higher scoring accuracy.

2. Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM)

Consumers are demanding transparency around working conditions and the treatment of individual workers at every step of the value chain. Meeting this need is a complex challenge, but one that will be addressed through collective commitment. To meaningfully improve social and labor conditions for workers who produce billions of apparel, textiles and footwear products each year, brands and manufacturers need new tools to help create and support safe and fair working conditions for all.

The Higg Labor & Social Work Module (Higg FSLM) is a tool dedicated to promoting safe and equitable social and labor conditions for value chain workers globally. It allows producers to measure their social impacts along the value chain. It also evaluates the effectiveness of social management programs. Higg FSLM is suitable for all levels of production.

The Higg FSLM will measure (The Higg FSLM assesses):

- Hiring and Hiring (Recruitment and Hiring)

- Working Hours

- Wages and Benefits

- Treatment of workers (Employee Treatment)

- Employee Involvement

- Health and Safety (Health and Safety)

- Termination of employment (Termination)

- Management Systems

- Facility workforce standards and those of value chain partners

- External engagement on social and labor issues with other facilities or organizations

- Community engagement