Press Releases / New Report Finds Apparel Decarbonization Progress Off-Track

New Report Finds Apparel Decarbonization Progress Off-Track

Decarbonization
Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

Cascale’s State of the Industry 2026 report shares new analysis of verified facility data, shows emissions rising as coal dependence and limited renewable energy adoption slow progress.

January 28, 2026

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – January 28, 2026: Cascale today released the State of the Industry 2026: Decarbonization Progress in the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles Industry report, finding the sector is not decarbonizing at the pace or scale required to meet global climate targets. The report analyzes verified 2023 and 2024 energy data from the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), with a focus on Tier 1 finished product manufacturing and Tier 2 material manufacturing. Using Cascale’s new Effective Energy Carbon Intensity (EECI) metric, the analysis assesses how effectively the industry is decarbonizing energy use, which remains the dominant source of Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

“This report makes clear that there are no shortcuts to decarbonization,” said Jeremy Lardeau, Senior Vice President, Higg Index at Cascale. “Real progress depends on true value chain collaboration, not sourcing shifts by the brands. The level of investment required to achieve the deep decarbonization measures at facility level means brands will have to step up in a meaningful way. The climate agenda must be seen as an imperative to change the legacy sourcing dynamics of this industry.”

Key Findings

Overall decarbonization progress remains slow. Verified facility data shows only marginal improvement in EECI performance over time, far below what is required to meet climate targets.
Coal use remains a critical barrier to progress. Coal accounts for 31 percent of total industry energy consumption, remaining unchanged year-over-year. In Tier 2, coal represents the largest fuel source, accounting for 40 percent of the global energy mix.
Renewable energy adoption remains limited and flat. Renewables account for only two percent of total industry energy consumption, unchanged between 2023 and 2024, despite more facilities reporting some renewable energy use.
Emissions are highly concentrated. A relatively small number of large, energy-intensive facilities drive a disproportionate share of emissions, indicating that targeted interventions could accelerate progress more effectively than uniform approaches. Cascale encourages brands and suppliers to engage with the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), providing manufacturers with a structured pathway to measure emissions, set science-aligned targets (SATs), and implement reductions.

The findings align with broader global assessments, including recent analysis from the United Nations Environment Programme, which underscores that current policies remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Cascale’s report cautions against relocating production based on country averages and emphasizes long-term, collaborative engagement with manufacturers, particularly in Tier 2; to achieve this, supply chain engagement is essential. On March 4 , Cascale will host a member-only webinar that includes a deep dive into the report and a discussion on how EECI can be used by organizations to analyze their supply chains; Cascale members can register on Cascale Connect.

Cascale will publish this State of the Industry report annually to track progress and support collective action. The organization will continue expanding access to data and analytics for members and advancing programs such as the Manufacturer Climate Action Program to support science-aligned targets and measurable emissions reductions.

Download the Report

Publications / State of the Industry 2026: Decarbonization Progress in the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles Industry

State of the Industry 2026: Decarbonization Progress in the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles Industry

Decarbonization
Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

Cascale’s State of the Industry 2026 report shares new analysis of verified facility data, shows emissions rising as coal dependence and limited renewable energy adoption slow progress.

Download publication

January 28, 2026

Blogs / Strengthening Data Quality in the Higg FEM: How We’re Raising the Bar for Credible, Comparable Environmental Data

Strengthening Data Quality in the Higg FEM: How We’re Raising the Bar for Credible, Comparable Environmental Data

Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

Discover how Cascale and Worldly are strengthening data quality in the Higg FEM through clearer guidance, smarter technology, and stronger verification systems in Jeremy Lardeau’s latest blog.

Jeremy Lardeau

December 17, 2025

Across the value chain, one theme keeps coming up in conversations with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and verifiers alike: data quality matters more than ever.

Whether a facility is tracking energy use, a brand is reporting Scope 3 emissions, or a regulator is evaluating compliance, decisions depend on credible, comparable data.

This is exactly why Cascale and Worldly have made data quality a top priority for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), available exclusively on Worldly. Over the past several cadences, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Higg FEM data — and in 2026, we’re going even further.

Why Data Quality Matters Now

The Higg FEM has become the industry’s foundation for environmental measurement at the facility level. Its role is broader than a single assessment: it feeds Scope 3 reporting, informs regulatory disclosures, and guides operational improvements inside factories. That means the quality of the underlying data isn’t just a technical question; it’s a credibility question.

The Higg FEM also continues to evolve. New data points, deeper quantitative detail, and alignment with reporting standards raise the bar for everyone — which is the right direction, but it also means we must continuously tune the system to support users and prevent errors.

What We’ve Improved — Why It Matters

1. Better inputs: clearer content and stronger models

A major part of data quality is making sure staff at manufacturing facilities understand exactly what’s being asked and how to respond accurately. Based on feedback from Higg FEM users (yes, the manufacturers) and verifiers, we’ve:

Rewritten and clarified questions that previously created confusion.
Added new guidance and training materials in areas like chemical inventory management.
Updated emissions models to align more closely with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
Introduced new validation rules to prevent impossible answers, such as inconsistent water usage or incorrect chemical data.
“Get to Know the Higg FEM” webinar series and live Q&A sessions offering section-by-section deep dives to help manufacturers get answers and feel confident before submitting their assessments.

By preventing errors before they enter the system, we reduce the need for corrections later — and improve the clarity of data for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.

2. Smarter technology to catch issues early

We’re working closely with Worldly, making the most of its innovative platform as a central solution to elevate data accuracy.

Automated outlier detection now flags anomalous data during self-assessment. In Higg FEM 2024, the system identified more than 12,000 potential outliers, with facilities correcting 41 percent of them.
Facilities can now see their previous cadence values, helping them recognize when their inputs look unusual.
The AI-powered Worldly Assistant provides immediate access to guidance and documentation, supporting users at the moment of data entry.
Improvements to page load times, question structures, and table-based inputs reduce friction and accidental errors.

Members are already making the most of these dynamic updates, featured in our Cascale Connect series. And, our own HowtoHigg website has also been enhanced to ensure easier access to information on how to use the tools and understand the methodology behind them.

3. A stronger, more consistent verification ecosystem

Verification is a core pillar of data quality. It’s also one of the most intensive areas of work within Higg FEM — and one where we’ve made major strides.

Cascale has 570 trained verifiers across 73 Verifier Bodies as of November 14, supported by detailed protocols, QA checks, and annual performance reviews.
In 2024 and 2025, our QA program significantly reduced avoidable verification errors through new consistency checks and verifier guidance.
We increased the number of desktop reviews, counter verifications, and duplicate verifications, giving us clearer insight into verifier performance.
New Verifier Body profiles and an expanded Quality Assurance Dashboard offer more transparency than ever before.
Our automated VPM QA Rules cut the number of verified Higg FEMs containing clear errors by more than half.

Taken together, these improvements provide stronger confidence in verified Higg FEM data — which is essential for brands using these metrics in their reporting and decision-making.

4. Preparing for the next generation of Higg FEM data quality

Looking ahead, 2026 will be an important year. We’re piloting a new approach to more frequent and timely verification of key quantitative data — such as energy use, water consumption, and shipped volumes, in cases where such frequent or timely verification is warranted (in line with our recently published Principles on the Frequency of Environmental Data Reporting). Instead of reviewing these inputs once a year, we’ll be testing quarterly verification using remote methods.

The goal is simple:

Catch issues earlier
Reduce year-end corrections
Provide more timely, fully verified data
Support manufacturers’ own internal performance management

We are also deepening technical alignment with ZDHC on verification expectations — a step toward reducing duplication and strengthening cross-industry consistency.

A Continuous Improvement Mindset

Data quality is not a destination; it’s an ongoing discipline. Every cadence teaches us something new. Every round of user feedback highlights opportunities to clarify questions or strengthen checks. And every trend in the data helps us understand where the industry is improving — and where more support is needed.

The Higg FEM is the most widely used environmental assessment for consumer goods manufacturing. That reach gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to continuously raise the bar, and to listen to the feedback our users are giving us.

By improving content, strengthening verification, and using technology more intelligently, we’re helping facilities, brands, and policymakers work with data they can trust — and ultimately enabling more credible environmental progress across the value chain.

Blogs / When Measurement Becomes the Engine of Sustainability

When Measurement Becomes the Engine of Sustainability

Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

Lee Green’s latest blog explores the updated Higg FEM 2025, rising regulatory expectations, and how data-driven action can strengthen resilience, competitiveness, and industry-wide progress.

A close-up view of a loom, showcasing the need for effective sustainability measurement.

Lee Green

December 10, 2025

For years, the conversation around sustainability has revolved around ambition.

We’ve talked about goals, commitments, and net zero promises by pending timelines. But ambition alone doesn’t cut it anymore; not for brands, not for manufacturers, and certainly not for the planet.

The real shift now underway is about measurement. Because what we measure, and how, is what drives real progress.

From Afterthought to Engine

Measurement has often been treated as the last step in the process: collect the data, report the results, and move on. But in truth, it should be the first. When you start with measurement — with visibility and credible data — you create the foundation for meaningful change.

That’s why the latest update to the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) matters. Released by Cascale earlier this month, the 2025 version introduces sharper emission factors, improved verification guidance, and new facility categories. It’s more than a technical update — it’s a reflection of where the industry needs to go: better data, better insights, better decisions.

The Regulatory Shift

Meanwhile, policy frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) are tightening expectations across the apparel and consumer goods sectors. They’re not just about ticking boxes; they’re about showing impact.

Soon, large brands operating in the EU will need to prove how they’re managing risks, engaging suppliers, and cutting emissions, with data that stands up to scrutiny. And that means upstream manufacturers and suppliers will need to be part of that proof chain.

The question isn’t whether our industry will have to measure and report on progress. It’s whether we’ll measure well enough to turn the need for compliance into strategic outcomes that drive business value.

Aligning Data with Action

This is where the conversation gets interesting. Because if we can continue to align measurement tools like the Higg Index with regulatory readiness, we move from compliance to competitiveness. (Read about our efforts to map the Higg BRM with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), as another strong indication).

The 2030 vision is closer than we realize. Instead of an industry scrambling to meet disclosure deadlines, we can become one that utilizes credible data to drive smarter sourcing, targeted investment, and collaborative action. While it’s not always glamorous work, it’s the kind of work that builds resilience — in companies, in supply chains, and in the industry as a whole. Isn’t that a goal that benefits us all?

A Communications Perspective

From where I sit — leading marketing and communications at Cascale — an integral part involves storytelling through data. For too long, sustainability communication has leaned on grand ambition. Now it’s time to tell the story of progress: how we measure, how we improve, and how we make it meaningful.

The more transparent we are about the process, the more credible and impactful the message becomes.

Looking Ahead

At Cascale, our role is evolving with the industry. We’re not just providing tools. We’re helping brands and manufacturers connect the dots between measurement, regulation, and action. Because when measurement becomes the engine, and not the afterthought, sustainability stops being a side project and starts becoming business as usual.

Verification Annual Summary Report 2024

Higg FEM
Verification
Higg Index Tools

Download publication

April 24, 2025

Press Releases / Cascale’s Higg FEM Reveals Opportunities for Low-Carbon Transition in Vietnam

Cascale’s Higg FEM Reveals Opportunities for Low-Carbon Transition in Vietnam

Decarbonization
Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

Vietnam is emerging as a critical player in the global shift to low-carbon manufacturing—and new insights from Cascale’s Higg FEM show why.

Vietnamese landscape; lush green rice fields

April 17, 2025

Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR) could help deliver on sustainability goals as consumer goods manufacturing continues to drive GDP growth, projected at 6.5% in 2025.

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – April 17, 2025: Issued today, the “Vietnam Country Report: Macroeconomic, Socioeconomic, and Industry Analysis” report, developed by Cascale with support from the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), highlights the evolving macroeconomic landscape, sustainability challenges facing apparel and footwear manufacturing, and the rapid expansion of the consumer goods market in Vietnam. A strong economic outlook coupled with bold sustainability initiatives reveals a country poised to play a crucial role in global decarbonization efforts, even as tariffs threaten to put 5.5% of Vietnam’s GDP at risk and raise prices for American consumers (New York Times, April 6). Tariffs and other key topics impacting Vietnam will be on the agenda at the Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City on May 14-15, as Cascale members and non-members alike – including manufacturers, leading brands, service providers, and supply chain partners – come together for an immersive event to address urgent sustainability challenges and opportunities. The report includes critical analysis of data from Cascale’s Higg Facility Environment Module (FEM) tool, exclusively available on Worldly. It is the first in a series of actionable reports filtering Higg FEM insights through a regional lens.

In 2023, over 1,200 verified Higg FEM submissions showed coal exacerbates carbon emissions in the region: 12% of apparel and footwear facilities use coal for energy, while 94% rely on electricity purchased from Vietnam’s coal-dependent grid. Although renewable energy accounts for less than 2% of the sector’s energy use, the analysis underscores opportunities for transformation to a low-carbon economy, including through the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR) developed by Cascale and Aii.

The report shows Vietnam can couple growth with sustainable manufacturing. Vietnam’s economy is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2025, outpacing regional peers. The manufacturing sector continues to be a key driver, contributing 23.88% to GDP in 2023. Additionally, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains robust, reaching US$31.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2024, signaling investor confidence in Vietnam’s economic resilience. Employing around three million workers and generating an estimated US$71 billion in export revenues for 2024, the apparel and footwear sector is a vital component of Vietnam’s economy but faces significant sustainability challenges, including high energy consumption and carbon emissions. With commitments in place for a 65-70% increase in renewable energy by 2045 – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 70-80% – Vietnam is committed to supply chain decarbonization, in line with the IDR.

The report brings Cascale and Aii’s IDR into focus as a potential solution. By uniting manufacturers, brands, retailers, and stakeholders around shared goals, the IDR emphasizes collective accountability and pre-competitive collaboration to accelerate systemic change across the supply chain. With a science-based target of reducing supply chain emissions by 45% by 2030, the IDR drives measurable progress through various interventions, solutions, and programs. The IDR ensures resources are targeted, so low-carbon sourcing and other benefits can be realized. This means prioritizing action in the 10% of facilities across the textile and apparel supply chain – including some in Vietnam – that account for over 80% of global manufacturing emissions. By aligning with these initiatives, facilities in Vietnam can play a pivotal role in the global transition to a low-carbon economy

“This isn’t merely about compliance—it’s about long-term competitiveness,” said Colin Browne, Cascale CEO. “Brands increasingly prefer suppliers who meet robust sustainability standards. Manufacturers investing in sustainability today will secure long-term brand partnerships tomorrow.”

News Updates / Cascale Celebrates 35th Annual ARTS Awards Ceremony

Cascale Celebrates 35th Annual ARTS Awards Ceremony

Higg FEM

Andy Singer, accepting a Lifetime Achievement award at the 35th Annual Arts Awards in Dallas, Texas. Cascale was a sponsor for the event.

January 16, 2025

The event was held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas as a finale to the January Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, held Jan. 8 through 11.

For the 35th Annual ARTS Awards ceremony and gala, Cascale attended and sponsored a cocktail reception.

Given the Higg FEM supports soft furnishings – with a number of Cascale members already employing the tool for such uses – the sponsorship was a natural progression. The event was held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas as a finale to the January Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. Despite the severe, ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles and recent snowfall in Northern Texas, the turnout was strong. Honorees spanned the US with an array of featured award categories from lighting to home accent stores to outstanding sales professionals.

Special recognitions went to industry veterans. This included Lifetime Achievement award winner Andy Singer, founder and chief executive officer of Houston-based lighting manufacturer Visual Comfort; and Trailblazer award winner Lois del Negro, co-founder of Global Views.

Recounting her career in home furnishings, del Negro built her foundations from being the first woman to become a furniture buyer at Macy’s. In her acceptance speech, she proved her worth: “Especially the woman in HR at Macy’s who told me, ‘We will never make a woman a furniture buyer.’ I proved her wrong.”

Industry professionals will gear up for the next furniture-focused events including High Point Market happening April 26 to 30, 2025 and the ART Conference 2025 in Miami slated for May 21 to 23.

Other awards in the mix included the HEARTS Award which went to The H Foundation for its cancer-awareness fundraising efforts.

Interior designers and well-known personalities also made their appearance as presenters for the event. This included Thom Filicia, who is a member and ambassador of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), and Carson Kressley, who may be recognized from TV shows such as Queer Eye and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

Another notable honor included the Green Award which went to the wall decor manufacturer Phillips Collection based in High Point, N.C. “Every piece is a conversation, and we are dedicated to supporting sustainable ideals and practices,” said the president and CEO Mark Phillips in his acceptance speech. Appropriately, Sustainable Furnishings Council was a judge for the award, assisting during the extensive vetting process which will be due in November for the upcoming year.

As it turns out, the furniture world isn’t so far from the fashion world. Attendees were elegantly dressed – with the Texas flair including everything from lavish furs and sequins to bolo ties. One anecdote summarized this adjacency. In his final remarks, New Yorker-turned-Texan Visual Comfort’s Andy Singer said he got the idea for his business’s name from a fashion publication.

Blogs / Level 1 Verification Is Great, What About Full Higg FEM Verification?

Level 1 Verification Is Great, What About Full Higg FEM Verification?

Verification
Higg FEM

Everything members need to know about the Higg FEM verification changes, use cases, and evolution of the tool.

Higg FEM enables sustainability for SMEs, manufacturers, brands, retailers. Recent acknowledgement in the EFRAG SME report.

Dhawall Mane

December 02, 2024

Everything members need to know about the Higg FEM verification changes, use cases, and evolution of the tool.

Following the publication of this blog, Cascale released a position paper on Level 2 and Level 3 verifications in September 2025. Learn more and view the paper here.

Verification Changes with Higg FEM 4.0 Update

With the Higg FEM 4.0 update, Cascale made changes to its verification approach. In short, this started with narrowing the scope of verification to a Core set of questions in CY2024 (Higg FEM 2023), slightly expanding the verification scope to all Level 1 questions in CY2025 (Higg FEM 2024), and committing to develop a fit for purpose approach to verify Level 2 and Level 3 questions.

What is the evolution of Higg FEM use cases?

The latest verification update evolved with members in mind. With deployment of Higg FEM 3.0 in the Cascale member supply chains, tool adoption scaled exponentially at the rate of 60 percent CAGR between CY2019 and CY2023. Through member interactions and monitoring adoption patterns, Cascale observed that the Higg FEM has evolved to serve three distinct use cases, described in Exhibit A below.

Exhibit A: Evolution of Higg FEM use cases

Evolution of Higg FEM Use Cases:

1) Code of Conduct / Foundational performance of a factory (permits, discharges, and management systems, among other factors)

2) Impact Metrics (quantities of resources consumed: energy, water, and environmental impact created: GHG, waste, wastewater, and air emissions)

3) Performance Management: targets, baselines, improvements, Progressive and Aspirational indicators in Level 2, Level 3 of Higg FEM.

During its Annual Meeting in Munich, Germany held in September 2024, Cascale presented these use cases at the Session titled: “Higg FEM and Verification Evolution.” The full session recap can be found here. Cascale received validating feedback on these use cases from the member community.

Image: Cascale member cut and sew factory during Higg FEM verification Image credit: Dhawall Mane

Why is a different approach needed to verify Level 2, Level 3 questions?

With such varied use cases, verification approaches and methods needed to evolve accordingly. Note that the current verification approach for environmental assessment such as Higg FEM is primarily inspired from the social audits approach, which is fit for Use Case 1) mentioned above.

The intent of questions in Levels 2 and 3 of Higg FEM is geared towards evaluating the progressive and aspirational practices of a factory. The scoring weightage for Level 2 questions is 50 percent, while Level 3 questions is 25 percent, indicating that a significant proportion of the scoring weightage (75 percent) is pinned on questions in Level 2 and Level 3. Cascale believes that adopting a coaching-based approach, wherein verification is viewed as an engagement rather than an event, is necessary to bring transformational change for the factories engaging with the verification process. One example of this is whether a facility has a coal phase out plan (Section: Energy & GHG, Question: 17, Level 2); Cascale envisions a verification approach wherein the verifier can support the factory to identify and unlock barriers towards phasing out coal from their operations, rather than merely identifying whether the factory’s response is accurate or inaccurate

Cascale has resourced a three phase project on Verification Scope Expansion starting in the second quarter this year to support this industry need. The first phase is aimed at publishing a whitepaper which outlines the verification methods and implementation criteria for such an expanded verification service. This whitepaper will also set the base for a pilot which will be conducted by Cascale to test such an approach in the real world before releasing it at scale. This whitepaper, aimed to be released in the first quarter of 2025, shall be built in consultation with Cascale members. Members curious about the consultation process can tune into the town hall in December on governance, tools, and membership via Cascale Connect.

What is next for Higg FEM verification?

As for what’s next, please stay tuned for more information detailing the ongoing evolution of the verification program. Cascale will be sharing key updates on our website as well as Cascale Connect.

Press Releases / Cascale’s Environmental Tool Undergoes Annual Update to Improve Sustainability Reporting for Manufacturing Facilities

Cascale’s Environmental Tool Undergoes Annual Update to Improve Sustainability Reporting for Manufacturing Facilities

Higg FEM
Higg Index Tools

November 07, 2024

Global consumer goods nonprofit releases annual update of Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM)

Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – November 7, 2024: Today, in partnership with Worldly, Cascale launched the latest version of its Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) to provide more precise and verified environmental data on the consumer goods manufacturing supply chain, as well as reduce reporting duplication for manufacturers, saving businesses valuable time and resources.

For over a decade, the Higg FEM tool has been a critical sustainability assessment for the consumer goods industry, allowing users to drive continuous improvement on environmental management practices, support legislative compliance and risk management practices, and collect impact data to track progress against reduction targets. Today, it is used by over 20,000 companies worldwide. Higg FEM is part of the Higg Index, which is developed and owned by global nonprofit alliance Cascale and exclusively available on Worldly, the industry’s leading sustainability data insights platform.

“The updates to Higg FEM 2024 are a direct response to the needs of our members and Higg Index community,” said Colin Browne, Cascale CEO. “Higg FEM 2024 embodies our unwavering dedication to providing the most credible, impactful data. By incorporating valuable insights from members and stakeholders, we’ve ensured that this latest version continues to set the standard for environmental assessments to drive meaningful change across the industry.”

Higg FEM 2024 now integrates Worldly’s Facility Data Manager (FDM). With FDM, facilities can track and share quantitative environmental metrics on a monthly basis and import that data into the Higg FEM on Worldly’s platform. This streamlines data collection for facilities and saves time in completing the annual Higg FEM assessment.

“At Worldly, we view Higg FEM 2024 as a pivotal advancement in measuring and driving environmental impact, enabling our customers to act faster with greater precision and high-quality primary data,” said Scott Raskin, CEO of Worldly. “The integration of Higg FEM with our Facility Data Manager provides manufacturers a distinct advantage by reducing friction in data capture throughout the year and seamlessly connecting with Higg FEM to minimize duplication of effort—a key goal. We are proud of our partnership with Cascale as we support both brands and manufacturers through streamlined data capture processes and actionable insights, driving progress toward sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.”

The Higg FEM 2024 update also expands the scope of verification to include waste impact metrics, in addition to the existing metrics on energy, GHG, water, wastewater and air emissions. Expanding the verification approach ensures that the data provided remains relevant and impactful.

This update reflects a collaborative effort, where Cascale engaged with over 85 leading brand and manufacturer members across 17 consultation sessions in 2024. With Higg FEM 2024, Cascale and Worldly underscore their commitment to innovation and continuous improvement with the Higg Index suite of tools, which are updated annually. To help Cascale members and Higg FEM users better understand the latest update and changes, Cascale and Worldly will co-host a Higg FEM 2024 Launch Webinar on November 14.

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the leading sustainability data insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

ABOUT WORLDLY

Worldly is the planet’s most comprehensive impact intelligence platform, trusted by 40,000+ major brands, retailers, and manufacturers in fashion, outdoor, home goods, toys, and more. Worldly uniquely collects high-resolution primary data specific to companies’ value chains, operations, and products, providing insight into true impacts across carbon, water, chemistry, and labor. Featuring the most comprehensive source of ESG data for global manufacturers and the largest library of materials and product impacts, Worldly empowers businesses to scale responsibility into their global operations, faster and more accurately. Hosting, connecting with, and supporting the leading industry solutions and methodologies including ZDHC, Bluesign, and the Higg Index – the most widely-adopted measure of sustainability in the apparel industry – Worldly delivers the insights businesses need to reduce their impact, comply with emerging regulatory and financial disclosure requirements, and meet the expectations of a new generation of customers. www.worldly.io

News Updates / Cascale Participates in “To the Finish Line” Event in Vietnam

Cascale Participates in “To the Finish Line” Event in Vietnam

Higg FEM

Dhawall Mane director, verification, training and insights, participated in a virtual To the Finish Line (TFL) event organized by GIZ in Vietnam.

October 17, 2024

Cascale team member Dhawall Mane director, verification, training and insights, recently participated in a virtual To the Finish Line (TFL) event organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Vietnam.

TFL is a program designed to support continued environmental performance in Vietnam’s apparel supply chain through the effective use of Cascale’s Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) tool, which is exclusively available on Worldly. More than 700 manufacturers were invited to attend the town hall event; most participants were Higg FEM users.

Higg FEM is a transformative tool used to assess the environmental impact of product manufacturing at facilities, including water use, waste management, chemical, and energy use. In doing so, it not only uncovers hotspot areas for improvement, but also reduces redundancy, mitigates risk, and creates a common language to communicate sustainability to stakeholders. Vietnam is currently the second-highest ranked in v-Higg FEM country average score (Higg FEM 2022) and, reflecting Cascale’s own founding and guiding principles, TFL aims for pre-competitive collaboration for collective action.

Through TFL, manufacturers in the region can share knowledge to support environmental sustainability while responding to evolving needs for due diligence and shared responsibility. Participants are also invited to join a Professional Peer Community of Learning for Action on Higg FEM and beyond. Established in 2022 and running continuously since then, the goal of the TFL program is to create an exchange platform of practical knowledge by industry for industry, supporting peer-to-peer learning and problem solving.

The large-scale and practical TFL training program consists of two web-based sessions designed to elevate understanding of aspects of the Higg FEM, including management of energy, water, waste, chemicals, and greenhouse gas emissions. In the “Scaling Collective Action” session to which Cascale’s Mane contributed, regional industry stakeholders discussed practical tips on implementation. These included pooling financial and time resources, as well as what impact the TFL program has had so far and how the industry can adopt similar collective action programs in different sourcing regions.

Mane emphasized the importance of taking a systems approach in tracking data and of entrusting this responsibility to qualified, accountable personnel such as those trained through the program. “TFL is a shining example of Vietnam’s leadership in undertaking supply chain capacity building programs for Higg FEM,” Mane said.