Blog Details
Published on: June 19, 2025
Higg Index Certification: Advancing Sustainability in the Apparel Industry
In recent years, sustainability has become a central concern in the fashion and apparel industry. As consumers grow more conscious of environmental and social impacts, brands and manufacturers are under increasing pressure to ensure responsible production. To address these challenges and provide a standardized way to measure and improve sustainability, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) developed the Higg Index—a suite of tools designed to assess the environmental and social performance of apparel, footwear, and textile supply chains.
What is the Higg Index?
The Higg Index is a set of performance measurement tools that enable brands, retailers, and manufacturers to evaluate and improve sustainability across their operations. Created by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which includes major global brands, NGOs, and academic institutions, the Higg Index promotes transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Rather than functioning as a traditional certification, the Higg Index provides self-assessment tools and verified modules to measure performance across environmental and social criteria. These tools are modular, scalable, and cover multiple parts of the value chain.
Key Modules of the Higg Index:
- Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM):
Measures a manufacturing facility’s environmental management systems, water use, waste management, emissions, and energy use. - Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM):
Assesses a facility’s social impacts including worker treatment, health and safety, and labor rights. - Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM):
Evaluates a brand’s or retailer’s sustainability strategy, governance, and supply chain engagement. - Higg Product Tools (MSI & PM):
Measure environmental impacts at the product level, including materials, design, and production.
Is There a Higg Index Certification?
While the term "Higg Index Certification" is often used informally, it is important to understand that the Higg Index is not a certification in the traditional sense. Instead, organizations complete self-assessments and may optionally submit to third-party verification through SAC-approved verifiers. Facilities that complete the Higg FEM or FSLM and undergo verification can share their scores with business partners to demonstrate responsible practices.
This verified data is increasingly used as a credibility indicator in sustainability reporting, procurement decisions, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) evaluations.
Benefits of Using the Higg Index
- Standardized Measurement: Enables consistent assessment across global facilities and supply chains.
- Data-Driven Improvements: Helps identify areas for improvement and track progress over time.
- Transparency: Fosters accountability and enables brands to share sustainability data with stakeholders.
- Market Recognition: Enhances a company’s reputation with retailers, consumers, and regulators seeking credible sustainability efforts.
Conclusion
The Higg Index is a powerful tool helping the fashion and apparel industry transition toward greater sustainability. Though not a formal certification, its verified assessments provide meaningful insights into environmental and social impacts. By adopting the Higg Index, brands and manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to responsible production and continuous improvement—an essential step in creating a more sustainable future for fashion.
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