Higg Facility Tools
The Higg Facility Tools provide insights into social and environmental performance of manufacturing facilities so users can identify opportunities for continuous sustainability improvement.
From resource and energy use (Higg FEM) to working conditions (Higg FSLM), these tools provide insights that are critical to transforming the consumer goods industry into one that gives back more than it takes from people and the planet.
Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM)
A 2024 Fast Company “World Changing Ideas” finalist. For over a decade, the Higg FEM tool has helped companies build sustainability strategies based on credible data, pinpoint hotspots, and make breakthrough improvements on a global scale; today, it is used by over 20,000 companies worldwide.
The Higg FEM is a transformative tool used to assess the environmental impact of product manufacturing at facilities. Every stage of the production process is captured through this tool: from water and waste management to chemical and energy use. The Higg FEM not only uncovers hotspot areas for improvement, but also reduces redundancy and mitigates risk.
Foundational Environmental Performance
Cascale convened stakeholders to establish an aligned industry definition of Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP). Announced in May 2026, the milestone marked an important step towards industry alignment for baseline environmental management practices expected of all global manufacturing facilities producing consumer goods. Developed through engagement with 80 stakeholders at more than 30 organizations across the value chain, the initiative aimed to improve consistency, strengthen comparability, support legal compliance, and reduce environmental risks across supply chains.
Higg FEM 4.0
The most comprehensive assessment for environmental performance in the consumer goods industry. Cascale’s Higg FEM recognized by EFRAG as a valuable sustainability reporting tool for SMEs that is credible and aligned with EU frameworks.
Higg FEM Data Quality
High-quality data is critical to the value and credibility of the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). Cascale and Worldly are continuously strengthening Higg FEM data quality across the entire process; from how information is entered to how it is verified.
Recent improvements include clearer guidance, updated emissions models aligned with the GHG Protocol, new validation rules to prevent common errors, and smarter platform features like automated outlier detection. We’ve also expanded our verification Quality Assurance program, reducing avoidable verification errors and increasing consistency across verifiers globally.
These updates help ensure Higg FEM results are more accurate, comparable, and reliable — supporting better decision-making for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.
Higg FEM 2025 Key Dates & Use Cases
Higg FEM Feedback
At Cascale, we deeply value the insights and feedback of our members, Higg Index users, and stakeholders, as they play a vital role in shaping and improving our tools. We invite you to submit your feedback on the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). Your input, particularly regarding suggested improvements to the module, will help us enhance its functionality, usability, and effectiveness.
The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM)
The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) fosters safe and equitable social and labor conditions worldwide by leveraging tracking management systems, operational controls, oversight, and engagement with workers and stakeholders. Developed based on the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) framework, the Higg FSLM CAF uses a universal scoring system to enhance social performance in manufacturing facilities globally.
This system provides valuable insights to guide better actions, decisions, and practices. It is utilized by brands, retailers, and manufacturers of all sizes to evaluate the working conditions of employees who produce billions of consumer goods annually. The scoring focuses on critical factors, including wages, working hours, health and safety standards, and the treatment of employees, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of social impact within facilities.
Higg FSLM verification improves data quality and ensures that your facility has accurately responded to the Higg FSLM self-assessment questions. The Higg FSLM verification process follows the SLCP verification methodology. Click here for guidance on how to complete Higg FSLM verification as a facility.
Communicating Your Higg Index Performance
Cascale provides guidelines on sharing your Higg Index performance as part of any business to business (B2B) or business to consumer (B2C) communications. Please review the Higg Index Communication Guidelines for more information.
Accessing the Higg Facility Tools
The Higg Index Tools are owned by Cascale and exclusively licensed to Worldly, the leading platform for sustainability data and analytics in consumer goods supply chains. Although Cascale members benefit from exclusive community support, educational experiences, and collaborative opportunities, the Higg Index suite of tools can be accessed through Worldly without Cascale membership.
Resources
Cascale shared MCAP and Higg FEM learnings at The Komar Supplier Sustainability Forum.
Reflections from HowToHigg on guidance, interpretation, and where clarity matters most.
New report shows Cascale’s Higg FEM verification program delivers credible environmental performance data to inform decision making across global consumer goods supply chains.
