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Higg Product Tools
The Higg Product Module (Higg PM) and Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI) provide insights into environmental impacts of materials and products so designers and organizations can better understand and monitor the impacts of different production choices.
Using peer-reviewed life-cycle assessment data, the Higg Product Tools quantify the environmental impacts of materials (Higg MSI) and products (Higg PM) from raw material extraction or production through manufacturing, finishing, and assembly.
The Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI)
Built on credible life cycle assessment data, the Higg MSI is the industry’s most trusted tool at the material production stage of the supply chain, helping users understand the extraction and production impacts of different materials (such as textiles, plastics, metal and leather) and how processing decisions can change those impacts. The Higg MSI calculates environmental impacts and translates them into Higg MSI scores to help contextualize the results. Using the Higg MSI Contributor, Higg MSI Contributor, suppliers and manufacturers can submit data on their materials and production processes to demonstrate their impact and streamline communication to customers.
The Higg Product Module (Higg PM)
The Higg PM measures the cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of consumer goods from the point of resource extraction to manufacturing, all the way through durability, care, and end of use. Products that can be assessed include apparel and footwear; home furnishings; bags and luggage; and sporting goods. The assessment includes all materials used in a product, adjusted to the specific quantities of each material used, as well as those that result from the manufacturing, use and disposal of finished goods.
With insights from the Higg PM, designers and developers can better understand the environmental impacts of the products they’re creating and make adjustments in design, manufacturing, and logistics to reduce them. Sustainability analysts can also use the Higg PM to benchmark and measure the environmental impacts of product portfolios over time.
Impact Categories
The Higg Product Tools use peer-reviewed life-cycle assessment data to quantify the environmental impacts of materials (Higg MSI) and products (Higg PM) from the extraction or production of raw materials through manufacturing, finishing, and assembly. In addition to the LCA impact categories, the Higg Product Tools also report biogenic carbon content and water consumption metrics for a more comprehensive analysis.
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 Product 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
In March, Cascale and Worldly held a webinar, “Navigating Legislation & the Higg Index: Higg Product Tools with PEF and more.” In this blog, we share the recording, highlight key takeaways, and address submitted questions during the session.
Discover the possibilities of becoming a member. Download the brochure and take the first step towards unlocking valuable benefits, industry insights, and a supportive global community.
We are grateful to KPMG for their work in developing this report, which captures the invaluable insights and recommendations derived from the expert review of the Higg MSI and Higg PM tools.
