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FEM 2025 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0

Table of Contents

 

This summary of updates is to provide a detailed level of content changes from Higg
FEM 2024 to Higg FEM 2025 in each Higg FEM section.


The entire How-to-Higg FEM Guide has been reviewed and updated where appropriate
to provide as much clarity as possible for all stakeholders to understand the intent and
expectations.

 

FEM 2025 Cadence Notes

  • Previously the unposting of your assessment was allowed until April 30. Now, unposting is allowed until 60 days after your first posting date (ASC date). 
    • Note: Unposting is never allowed after verification begins or after the end of the cadence on Dec 31, 2026.

 

Facility Site Info

  • Provide additional examples to assist in the selection of Facility Type.
  • Finished Product Processing Facility Type has been split into two separate facility
    types;
    • Finished Product Processing (Product Printing, Product Painting,
      Embroidery & Embellishments, Buffing & Polishing, Moulding etc.)
    • Finished Product Processing (Product Dyeing, Product Laundering and
      Product Finishing)
Question 7
Added guidance on certifications and testing requirements that do not fall within Environmental Assessment/ Audit question scope.

 

Permits 

Question 1
UPDATED Question Text “Does your factory site have a current
and valid operating license, if required by law?” based on revised
time ordinance categorization.
Question 2
UPDATED Question Text “Does your facility have any unresolved
or outstanding government-issued environmental violation
records?” to better reflect the intent of the question.

 

EMS 

Question 7
Additional guidance added on frequency of training required for
employees.

 

Energy 

  • Added definition of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) and Power Purchase Agreement (PPAs).
Question 1
Updated Sub-question Text in the middle of FEM2024 “Is the
GHG emission factor of your purchased heating (District Heating)
specifically known because it is communicated by your supplier
of purchased heating?”

Updated Sub-question Text in the middle of FEM2024 “Is the
GHG emission factor of your purchased renewables specifically
known because it is communicated by your supplier of
purchased renewables?”

Added clarification on energy source selections for onsite solar
installations and boilers that are operated by third parties.
Question 2
NEW Question added in the middle of FEM2024 “Does your
company have any owned and controlled vehicles?” as an
applicability question to differentiate the need to answer this
question.

 

Water 

  • Added details on the option to complete Level 2 and 3 questions for facilities that are considered as a low water user / low water risk facility.
Question 4
Additional guidance added on the Rejected Water pre-treatment question.

 

Wastewater 

Question 21
Guidance on scoring rules added for this question.
Question 22
Guidance on scoring rules added for this question.
Question 23
Guidance on scoring rules added for this question.
Question 24
NEW Question “If you reported against ZDHC wastewater guidelines, did your facility test your wastewater and meet foundational limits for microfiber parameters (ie. Total Suspended Solids (TSS)) in the reporting year?”, based on updated ZDHC wastewater guidelines to control microfibre in wastewater.

 

Air Emissions 

  • No significant updates. 

 

Waste 

Question 13
Additional guidance added on frequency of training required for employees.

 

Chemicals 

Question 4
Additional guidance added on chemicals to be included in the
Chemical Inventory List (CIL).

 

FEM 2025 Exports and Results

  • Fixed "Ethanol" typo that impacts both Bulk CSV and Quantitative Impacts.
  • Updates to steam, fabric waste, district heating factors; chilled water to grid emission factor with COP of 3; and other mapping for unknown renewables.
  • Performance CSV - Added new totals and differentiated/clarified against existing totals which are adjusted to include domestic and vehicle sums.
  • Performance CSV - FEM questions mapped to SASB reporting standards. SASB Standards enable organizations to provide industry-based disclosures about sustainability-related risks and opportunities.
  • New guidelines from Cascale about sharing FEM scoring only when third-party verified.
  • Scoring Reminder - If a facility does not have a valid business license or does not have an available, valid permit where they marked the permit as required, they will get an automatic 0% for all their FEM 2025 scores.

 

Higg FEM Glossary 

  • Reviewed and Update FEM Glossary where necessary.

 

Appendix A: FEM Foundations 

Added new questions that are applicable to FEM Foundations.

This year we have continued to align FEM Foundations with all Level 1 questions. All Level 1 questions in the Higg FEM now appear in the FEM Foundations. 

In addition, a new question was added in the middle of FEM2024 as an applicability question to differentiate the need to answer this question.

  • REFID: ensourcevehicleany
  • Does your company have any owned and controlled vehicles?