Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) Technical Paper
This technical paper sets out the technical rationale behind the Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) question set, which forms the basis of the FEP Module within the Higg FEM.
This technical paper sets out the technical rationale behind the Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) question set, which forms the basis of the FEP Module within the Higg FEM.
How Lenzing uses sustainability data to strengthen environmental performance, support ESRS reporting, and advance supply chain transparency.
As demand for transparent, lower-impact textile supply chains continues to grow, manufacturers are expected to provide increasingly detailed environmental data alongside high-performance materials.
Lenzing (VIE: LNZ) is a publicly traded global producer of wood-based specialty fibers – including TENCEL™, LENZING™ ECOVERO™ and VEOCEL™ – that has long prioritized sustainability as a core business strategy rather than a standalone initiative. As Thomas Matiz, product sustainability manager at Lenzing Group, explained on a Cascale “Source of Good” podcast episode, standardized sustainability data helps the company collaborate more effectively with customers while demonstrating environmental performance across its operations.
Lenzing’s Annual and Sustainability Report 2025 was prepared in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), in preparation for reporting obligations under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and in line with Austria’s Sustainability and Diversity Improvement Act (NaDiVeG). Within that report, Lenzing formally discloses its Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) target and environmental performance across all production sites, demonstrating how standardized environmental data supports both regulatory reporting and customer transparency.
Lenzing combines responsible raw material sourcing, low-carbon manufacturing, digital traceability, and standardized environmental measurement to help customers meet evolving regulatory and market expectations. The company’s 2025 sustainability report aligns with ESRS requirements, strengthening transparency while providing investors, customers, and other stakeholders with consistent environmental information.
Global apparel brands increasingly require suppliers to provide credible, verified environmental data alongside high-performance materials. At the same time, new sustainability reporting requirements, including ESRS under the CSRD, raise expectations for companies to disclose standardized environmental information supported by robust governance and consistent methodologies.
For manufacturers operating multiple production facilities, collecting comparable environmental data while driving continuous improvement requires a common framework that supports operational management, customer reporting, and regulatory compliance.
Lenzing has long depended on the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), which is stewarded and governed by Cascale and implemented globally through the Worldly sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform, to monitor, track, and manage environmental performance across its manufacturing operations.
Through the tool, Lenzing is able to monitor environmental performance, reduce environmental risks, and identify opportunities to improve operational performance across production sites.
Lenzing formally discloses a continuous target to periodically update the Higg FEM across all nine pulp and fiber production sites. During 2025, the company completed both annual Higg FEM self-assessments and third-party verification at production sites, keeping the target on track.
The company also identifies customer expectations as an important driver of adoption. As Lenzing notes in its 2025 Sustainability Report, growing use of standardized environmental methodologies across the textile value chain has led many customers to request implementation of the Higg FEM and verified supplier environmental data.
“Reformation is known to provide sustainable clothing [and] they want to know where the products and the materials they use for the products come from…and how they are processed,” Thomas Matiz, product sustainability manager at Lenzing Group, explained on a Cascale “Source of Good” podcast episode. “By having this holistic perspective on the value chain and product creation, the basis was therefore for a good collaboration.”
Lenzing’s integrated approach to environmental measurement and transparent reporting helps customers better understand manufacturing performance while supporting continuous improvement across its global operations.
Key outcomes include:
Together, these efforts demonstrate how standardized environmental measurement can strengthen operational performance, meet evolving regulatory requirements, and provide customers with trusted sustainability data that supports more informed sourcing decisions.
Curious about Cascale membership and the benefits our members receive? Learn more → https://cascale.org/explore-membership/
For la Vie en Rose Group, sustainability directly informs business direction.
La Vie en Rose Group has built its sustainability work within a business that continues to grow in scale and reach. Experts in lingerie, swimwear, and loungewear since 1985, la Vie en Rose Group is headquartered in Montreal and operates more than 320 boutiques across Canada and the United States, and has 89 franchise locations in 19 countries internationally. As the company has expanded, it has continued to strengthen its approach to corporate social responsibility, integrating social and environmental impacts into its operations.
In December 2021, the company became a Cascale member and integrated the Higg Index, delivered through Worldly’s global technology platform, into its corporate social responsibility strategy to help evaluate environmental impact, working conditions, and governance. In collaboration with manufacturers, la Vie en Rose Group works to improve supply chain practices. With Cascale’s guidance in November 2023, la Vie en Rose Group submitted its commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to set near-term science-based emissions reduction targets in line with SBTi criteria and recommendations.
Recently, la Vie en Rose Group reached an important milestone when its target was approved by the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi). Under its parent company, Administration LVER Inc., la Vie en Rose Group committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 63 percent by 2035 from a 2023 base year. They also committed to reducing scope 3 GHG emissions by 66.3 percent per unit sold within the same timeframe.
As companies move through science-based target setting, technical requirements can become more detailed during validation. For la Vie en Rose Group, one of those requirements was accurately accounting for forest, land, and agriculture (FLAG) impacts within its emissions inventory.
The FLAG requirement surfaced during target validation with SBTi Services. Because la Vie en Rose Group’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 inventory had not originally been developed with FLAG emissions in mind, the company needed to integrate this component mid-validation while remaining aligned with SBTi Services’ 30-day validation timeline.
That made FLAG emissions a significant step in the process. It required la Vie en Rose Group to adapt quickly and apply a credible methodology within a narrow window.
To guide FLAG emissions accounting for the sector, Cascale and Worldly published the Navigating Forest, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) Emissions report in August 2025. The report offers a standardized method for estimating FLAG emissions for the apparel and footwear industry using the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI).
La Vie en Rose Group was already calculating product impacts for tiers 2, 3, and 4 using Higg MSI LCA assessment values, which gave the team a strong starting point for applying the methodology in a way that aligned with the logic and factors already being used in its inventory work.
However, one point required additional clarification. The methodology needed to be applied only to the raw material source portion of the LCA impacts. Before that was clarified, the company encountered estimates that appeared unusually high. With quick 1:1 support from Cascale’s technical team, la Vie en Rose Group was able to proceed with greater confidence in both their calculation and their submission to SBTi.
“Integrating FLAG impacts into our validation process required us to move fast and work in a very structured way. Careful application was essential, and Cascale’s methodology gave us a clear framework for addressing the requirement with confidence,” said Sarah Baker, corporate social responsibility principal advisor, la Vie en Rose.
La Vie en Rose Group’s target was approved by SBTi Services without follow-up questions regarding its FLAG emissions calculation.
A huge achievement that reflects the work la Vie en Rose Group completed internally to adapt its inventory, apply the methodology, and stay on track through the validation process. It also shows that a structured approach, grounded in sector-relevant guidance, can support companies as they respond to more technical requirements within target setting.
Even for companies that are not assumed to fall within FLAG sector remits, there is a lesson to be learned. La Vie en Rose Group’s experience shows that integrating FLAG emission calculations during validation is possible and that earlier preparation can make the process smoother.
Another takeaway for CSR professionals is the necessity of leading with a sound methodological approach. The Higg MSI in its current iteration does not include land-use change emissions, which form part of what needs to be measured in FLAG. Those values need to be adjusted to account for FLAG emissions. La Vie en Rose Group’s experience shows that companies can work through that requirement with a sound methodology and the right application.
For Cascale, this is a practical example of how shared methodologies can support members in achieving their goals. The guidance did not replace the work la Vie en Rose Group needed to do internally. It gave the company a sector-specific framework it could apply at a critical point in the process. That kind of support can help members move forward more efficiently, respond to evolving expectations, and build confidence in their approach.
For other companies navigating similar questions, la Vie en Rose offers a strong example of how thoughtful preparation and shared industry guidance can support progress on complex climate goals.
Before strategy or reporting, you need a data-driven baseline. Here is how Cascale Associate membership opens the door to shared industry ambitions.
Sustainability isn’t fully embedded across most fashion organizations — and that’s not a criticism. It’s the reality. Today’s fashion chief financial officers are candid about the fragmentation within their own companies, and the pressure filters down through every layer of the industry.
In this pressurized climate, companies have to make smarter decisions, and faster at that. Organizations need to understand where they stand today and what they should prioritize next in order to stay afloat of shifting tides. They need to communicate across disparate teams as well to investors and consumers – with clarity – without losing sight of action.
Before strategy, before reporting, before any claim of credibility — there has to be a credible, data-driven baseline.
That’s what the Higg Index offers. Trusted by 40,000+ users and counting, it’s one of the industry’s leading frameworks — and a proven first step toward meaningful sustainability progress.
In a recent Cascale case study, Orsolya Janossy, senior sustainability manager at textile-to-textile recycler Recover, said, “Using frameworks like the Higg Index alongside collaboration across the value chain helps us turn circularity from ambition into action.”
Separately, Cascale member Komar used reliable data to inform its broader climate strategy. “One of our first tasks was to create a proper strategy and then identify credible tools to collect the data needed to monitor progress,” said Komar’s chief sustainability officer, Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka. “If you have a strategy without credible data, there’s nothing you can do.”
Cascale’s Associate membership offers a direct connection to the industry’s shared measurement system.
Built as a straightforward gateway to credibility, Associate membership gives organizations the industry access they need without the complexity:
It’s designed for organizations focused on measurement, reporting, and building a credible sustainability baseline — wherever they are in the journey. Meaningful progress doesn’t begin with having all the answers. It begins with taking the first step.
Cascale remains committed to developing a Verification program that is credible, adaptable, and modular to uphold the highest standards as the program continues to grow.
Cascale remains committed to developing a Verification program that is credible, adaptable, and modular to uphold the highest standards as the program continues to grow.
Join us for an interactive session exploring the latest enhancements to the Higg BRM Benchmark. We’ll dive into how members can leverage the Benchmark as a strategic tool to drive performance, identify opportunities, and support sustainability goals.
Cascale’s Member Analytics Portal (MAP) makes data-driven reporting accessible, visible, and engaging.
Information wants to be free.
But too often it ends up locked away behind opaque reporting systems, busy experts, and data stores that won’t cooperate with each other. When that means I can’t get my bike computer to read my heart rate from my watch, that’s annoying, but I’ll live with it. When it means that our industry doesn’t have the reporting it needs to make data informed decisions about addressing supply chain driven climate impacts that’s a problem Cascale needs to solve.
Cascale’s Member Analytics Portal (MAP) is a member-only dashboard that provides aggregated, anonymized insights from Higg Index data. It frees Higg Index data and makes it easy to act on internally. With a user-friendly interface that enables fast exploration and even custom report building, all Cascale Corporate members can feel confident to internally analyze, measure, and act upon their Higg Index data.
Why now? Anyone attending my data sessions in years past at the Annual Meeting will recall that the MAP was soft-launched to select members in November 2023, and shared more broadly among members in April 2024. Over those years we’ve received a lot of member feedback, much of it positive, some of it negative, but all of it kind and useful and we’ve been able to take member experiences with the MAP to create a reporting platform that shines across a broad set of member use cases:
Pinpoint hotspots. Compare sustainability performance data. Access gaps in Scope 3 reporting. Compare facility data. Export it all into one easy downloadable Excel report. The MAP unlocks data strides for our industry.
The MAP provides value for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting by tracking progress across sustainability initiatives, and delivers valuable Higg Index data insights to industry stakeholders.
The use cases are immediate. With MAP, Corporate members can:
During testing, one Cascale member cited MAP’s ease of access and pointed toward the ability to at some point enable better conversations between vendors. Another member noted how MAP was not only “fun” but “immensely helpful.”
It’s available now to explore for Cascale Corporate members, but before diving into the data, there are a few helpful points for members to keep in mind.
This data is meant for Cascale Corporate member companies to utilize internally and act upon however their sustainability journey merits! It is not meant to be shared or communicated externally. Once again, MAP cannot be used to make external comparative claims or industry-wide performance assessments.
Remember, Cascale does not – and will not – endorse any member external data claims or verify the accuracy of such analyses. Information may be free but it still requires a responsibility for proper usage.
With the MAP, we believe our members will gain the confidence to proceed confidently in their own data-driven discoveries.
Onward!
Cascale shared MCAP and Higg FEM learnings at The Komar Supplier Sustainability Forum.
The Komar Supplier Sustainability Forum recently convened 70 participants from across the consumer goods industry in China. Cascale’s speakers included Nicole Lee-Kauer, manager, Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP); and Peony Tam, manager, Global Membership Development APAC.
Key Takeaways
With a global reach of 250 Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, Komar has made public decarbonization commitments, including to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 27.5 percent by 2030. In a dedicated decarbonization session, Cascale’s Lee-Kauer shared the importance of MCAP to help Komar’s Chinese suppliers get started in their decarbonization journey.
Lee-Kauer and Tam were joined by Tiffany Leung, customer success associate – Hong Kong at Worldly, and together they encouraged suppliers to transform data from the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), delivered through Worldly’s global technology platform, into business value, while empowering them to take greater ownership for their sustainability performance. The session highlighted useful resources like the Higg Index Learning Center, an open resource that shares practical guidance and operational examples for utilizing the tool. Rather than a tick-box exercise or response to brand-driven demand, suppliers were encouraged to understand that accurate data can support their own operational improvement and long-term business value.
The session also highlighted ongoing confusion. In a quick poll, the majority of attendees were unclear about the shared relationship between Worldly and Cascale. The speakers clarified their complementary roles within the ecosystem: The Higg Index frameworks, modules, and methodologies are stewarded and governed by Cascale and implemented globally through the Worldly sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform.
In the presentation, Lee-Kauer and Tam emphasized that Cascale offers both a like-minded and committed sustainability community and mutual support network for manufacturers. They highlighted the scale and relevance of Cascale as a community, showcasing a breadth of brand and manufacturer members.
This masterclass is designed for facilities and brands looking to build confidence in using Higg FEM 4.0.
