FEM Verification Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

General

• What does verification-enabled mean?
• Is verification mandatory? Can I purchase the module and complete just the self-assessment?
• Why has the verification process changed with the new assessment?
• Where can I find a list of the core verification questions and/or sections applicable on the vFEM 4.0?
• If a facility has Science-Based Targets (SBTs) approved, will those be covered in the verification?
• Is core verification possible on FEM Foundations?
• Would it be considered a conflict of interest if both training and verification organizations are the same?
• Can I share my FEM assessment with others even if I don't verify (vFEM)?
• How can we download FEM certificates from the online platform after verification?
• As a brand user, can I compare a single FEM module to all modules that I have received?
• How can a facility arrange for verification of their assessment on Higg FEM? Where can I see a list of Higg FEM Verification Bodies? 
• What are Time Ordinance Labels?

Levels and Scoring

• What does Partially Verified Score mean? 
• What is the scope of verification for FEM? Will Levels 2 and/or 3 questions be included for verification?
• Is verification for FEM 4.0 only necessary for Level 1, but can facilities choose to also have Levels 2 and 3 verified independently if they wanted?
• Can facilities verify an FEM module if they weren't operational for all of that year?
• What is the impact of the changes in the verification approach on the verification outcome and verified scores?
• Is the final score considered a partially verified score once again this year for FEM?
• If a facility has achieved Level 1 and answered questions in Levels 2 and 3, how is the verification score calculated? Is it the same as for FEM 2023?
• Is there any score for the FEM2023 Core Verification? If yes, how will it be scored?

Purchase and Payment

• Is the verification module now included in the purchase of FEM 2023?
• What are the costs associated with verification?
• Can I receive a discount if I don’t use verification?
• Has the collection process of Verification access fees changed?
• Why is the vFEM now combined in the FEM purchase? It is challenging to roll out FEM for smaller facilities that need only self-assessment. How do verification and the increased cost help a small facility to make improvements and still score low?

What does verification-enabled mean?

This means facilities' assessments will be easily available to the facility's chosen verification body – ensuring a streamlined review process.
Additionally, Cascale has updated its verification scope to be more targeted to the foundational environmental performance and essential quantitative areas in the Higg FEM, ensuring a faster and more efficient verification process.
Click here to learn more about the verification access fee.

Is verification mandatory? Can I purchase the module and complete just the self-assessment?

While it is recommended as best practice to have your data inputs verified, verification is not mandatory, and it is possible to stop at just the self-assessment.

Why has the verification process changed with the new assessment?

Between 2019 – 2022, Higg FEM verifications grew at an exponential rate. While this growth has helped the industry to embrace a unified environmental assessment tool for their supply chains, it has also brought challenges. Verifications are conducted in more than 80 countries worldwide, and the rapid growth rate has underscored the imperative need for improvement in data quality.

Cascale is committed to upholding the highest data quality standards, and in evaluating the current process, it is clear that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. We spoke with several members to identify what needs to change and have evolved the verification process to be more credible, flexible, and scalable to better fit the needs of our members, and the industry.

Where can I find a list of the core verification questions and/or sections applicable on the vFEM 4.0?

The core question set is listed in Appendix C of the Verification Protocol which you can download here: https://howtohigg.cascale.org/verification/fem-verification-program/#section3:~:text=Higg%C2%A0FEM%20Verification%C2%A0Protocol.

If a facility has Science-Based Targets (SBTs) approved, will those be covered in the verification?

Setting SBTs and having approved SBTs for GHGs or Water are within Level 3 of respective sections, so these questions will not be verified within the FEM 2023 cycle.

Is core verification possible on FEM Foundations?

If you work on the FEM Foundations module, you can only choose the verified foundations module, you cannot choose the core verification.

Would it be considered a conflict of interest if both training and verification organizations are the same?

No, it would not provided the auditors are not the same persons delivering the training. Once other colleagues within the organization are responsible for creating the content and delivering the training, then this would not represent a conflict of interest.

Can I share my FEM assessment with others even if I don't verify (vFEM)?

Yes, verification is not mandatory and is left to your facility's discretion. You can skip it if you don't need/want to do it and still can publish and share the assessment with your customers.

How can we download FEM certificates from the online platform after verification?

The FEM certificate is available for download from the FEM after the module is successfully verified and posted.

Once you have posted your FEM module, you can download the data and certificate from the FEM dashboard, or the Modules page.

As a brand user, can I compare a single FEM module to all modules that I have received?

No, it is not possible to compare a single received FEM module to all FEM modules that you have received in the benchmarking tool. It is possible to compare all received FEM modules to the industry average or custom benchmark, or compare an individual module to the industry average or custom benchmark. 

How can a facility arrange for verification of their assessment on Higg FEM? Where can I see a list of Higg FEM Verification Bodies? 

For the list of Higg FEM verifiers please go to howtohigg.org/verifiers

Please note this list will continue to grow as more individuals complete the verifier application and training process.

What are Time Ordinance Labels?

There are three types of Time Ordinance labels:

1. Reporting Period: Includes questions specific to quantitative metrics and questions
   explicitly required to be answered for the reporting period, i.e. the Higg FEM cadence
   period. Abbreviated as ”Reporting”.
2. Reporting Period and Current Snapshot: Includes questions specific to
   permits/licenses, training, management practices etc., that are required to be evaluated
   for consistency in implementation. Abbreviated as ”Reporting & Current”
3. Current Snapshot: Includes questions specific to present operating conditions at the time of verification. Abbreviated as ”Current”.

These appear as a label underneath the question. In the example below, the time ordinance label is Reporting and Current.

For more information on the verification scope for the three categories of questions, please refer to the Higg FEM Verifier Field Guide

What does Partially Verified Score mean?

Verified-assessment score is now known as “Partially Verified Score” in Higg FEM 2024 and 2025 cadences. It is calculated with a combination of the verified score of the L1 verification questions and the unverified score of the remaining applicable questions.
*Verified-assessment score was also known as “Partially Verified Score” in Higg FEM 2023 cadence. It was/is calculated with a combination of verified score of the “Core” verification questions and the unverified score of the remaining applicable questions.

What is the scope of verification for FEM? Will Levels 2 and/or 3 questions be included for verification?

All Level 1 questions are in scope for verification in FEM. Levels 2 and 3 questions are not covered in the verification scope this year.

Is verification for FEM 4.0 only necessary for Level 1, but can facilities choose to also have Levels 2 and 3 verified independently if they wanted?

Facilities can complete the entire self-assessment inclusive of all Levels they unlock and can respond to. For verification, the scope is narrowed to a core set of questions. The core question set is a subset of Level 1 questions. Please refer to the FEM 4.0 verification protocol - https://howtohigg.org/higg-fem-verification-program/ for more details.

Can facilities verify an FEM module if they weren't operational for all of that year?

Yes, they will be assessed and verified based on the portion of the year that they were operational (sipoperatingdays)

What is the impact of the changes in the verification approach on the verification outcome and verified scores?

With FEM verification now covering only a subset of the full FEM assessment, verified FEM scores will become only partially verified FEM scores. Cascale is assessing alternative metrics that align with the proposed core verification approach that could potentially support the brand's internal processes. Please stay tuned for more details.

Is the final score considered a partially verified score once again this year for FEM?

Yes, this is correct; the partially verified score will comprise the Level 1 verified score together with the unverified scores of Levels 2 and 3, where applicable.

If a facility has achieved Level 1 and answered questions in Levels 2 and 3, how is the verification score calculated? Is it the same as for FEM 2023?

As for the Higg FEM 2023 cadence, the verified-assessment score is still known as the “Partially Verified Score” and is calculated as a combination of the verified score of verification questions and the unverified score of the remaining applicable questions.

Is there any score for the FEM2023 Core Verification? If yes, how will it be scored?

There will be a Partially Verified score which is the adjusted self-assessment score based on the corrected answers during verification.

Cascale is working to provide more guidelines on interpreting scores and outcomes from a verified assessment. More information will be made available soon.

Is the verification module now included in the purchase of FEM 2023?

Verification is now enabled in FEM subscriptions. Verification is an important part of validating the accuracy of facility data. Previously, facilities had to pay an additional fee for verification enablement when buying their annual assessments. Now, it’s included in the single price for the assessment.

What are the costs associated with verification?

Fee for Higg FEM Self-Assessment and Verification

Can I receive a discount if I don’t use verification?

Discounts are not available. We encourage all users to complete the process of verification, ensuring their data is as accurate as possible. As more and more companies are required to comply with regulations, it is important to be reporting accurate, verified data.

Has the collection process of Verification Access Fees changed?

Until May 2023, Worldly had collected the fee associated with the Higg FEM verification. Manufacturers could purchase both the FEM module for completion and the vFEM directly on Worldly’s platform. However, to better align with standard industry processes, Worldly has transferred this responsibility to the Cascale. From now on, verification bodies will manage the collection of this fee on behalf of the Cascale. It's important to note that this isn't the introduction of a new fee; instead, we aim to apply this existing fee in a more transparent manner. Click here to learn more about Verification Access Fees.

Why is the vFEM now combined in the FEM purchase? It is challenging to roll out FEM for smaller facilities that need only self-assessment. How do verification and the increased cost help a small facility to make improvements and still score low?

The Higg FEM 4.0 price increase reflects significant additions made to the assessment – adding value to manufacturers and their brand partners. Higg FEM 4.0 includes new features to improve data quality, embedded support when and where users need it, and a revamped training program, ensuring our industry has the best available environmental data for regulations, and performance improvement. Next to this, we offer significantly increased hours of support, like these Q&A sessions for full support with the larger assessment.

In response to emerging regulations, we regularly hear from customers that completing Higg FEM verification is essential – helping ensure brands and manufacturers are disclosing accurate data. To better support our customers through this industry shift, we’ve enabled verification in the Higg FEM.