Sustainable Apparel Coalition's Higg Index

Definition

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition's Higg Index is a comprehensive framework designed to measure and improve the sustainability performance of apparel and footwear products. This tool enables brands, retailers, and manufacturers to evaluate their environmental and social impacts, promote transparency, and drive continuous improvement in sustainability practices across the industry.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Higg Index includes various assessment tools, such as the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) and the Higg Product Module (PM), which focus on different aspects of sustainability.
2. Brands that utilize the Higg Index can benchmark their sustainability performance against peers, identifying areas for improvement and setting goals for future progress.
3. The index encourages collaboration across the supply chain by providing a common language and framework for discussing sustainability issues among stakeholders.
4. Adopting the Higg Index helps companies enhance their brand reputation by demonstrating commitment to sustainable practices and addressing consumer demand for transparency.
5. The Higg Index is continuously updated to reflect new research, technologies, and best practices in sustainability, ensuring it remains relevant and effective in driving industry change.

Review Questions

• How does the Higg Index facilitate benchmarking for brands within the sustainable apparel industry?
  • The Higg Index facilitates benchmarking by providing a standardized framework that allows brands to assess their sustainability performance against others in the industry. By utilizing different modules like the Facility Environmental Module (FEM) and Product Module (PM), companies can identify their strengths and weaknesses in sustainability. This comparative analysis enables brands to set measurable goals and drive improvements in their practices, fostering a culture of continuous enhancement within the industry.
• In what ways does the Higg Index promote collaboration among stakeholders in the apparel supply chain?
  • The Higg Index promotes collaboration by establishing a common language and framework that various stakeholders, including brands, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers, can use to discuss sustainability issues. This shared understanding encourages open communication and fosters partnerships aimed at improving overall sustainability practices. By aligning goals and sharing best practices through the Higg Index, stakeholders can work together more effectively to address environmental and social challenges in the apparel industry.
• Evaluate how the implementation of the Higg Index can influence consumer behavior towards sustainable apparel choices.
  • Implementing the Higg Index can significantly influence consumer behavior by increasing transparency around product sustainability. As brands report their scores on various sustainability metrics using the index, consumers become more informed about the environmental impact of their clothing choices. This informed decision-making empowers consumers to support brands committed to ethical practices, thus driving demand for sustainable products. Over time, this shift in consumer behavior can lead to greater industry-wide changes as companies respond to consumer preferences for transparency and responsibility in fashion.

Related terms

Sustainable Fashion: An approach to fashion that seeks to minimize the environmental and social impacts of clothing production and consumption while promoting ethical practices.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A technique used to assess the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through production, use, and disposal.

Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources by creating closed-loop systems where waste is minimized, and materials are reused.