---
title: FEM 2025 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0
description: FEM 2025 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0
---

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# FEM 2025 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0

**Table of Contents**

- [FEM 2025 Cadence Notes](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731P2X1G4DG7RW1BBNNR50P)
- [Facility Site Info](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731P0G9SRRNKAVP7MMCAZFE)
- [Permits](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731NY6PSH5ZAFJFAE13XSV1)
- [EMS](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731P74GF922XASX9H47QMXM)
- [Energy](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731PC601H23HQTAMWWVW8DV)
- [Water](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731PF8KKZPK9ABT85E49J0C)
- [Wastewater](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731PNX51EG7DDKH8STJMFS1)
- [Air Emissions](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731PV8EYZ65W28JBHPSRX8R)
- [Waste](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731Q0KN9N7PGABJ9FTFKX28)
- [Chemicals](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731Q33BNPPE6215F50J0WFB)
- [FEM 2025 Exports and Results](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731QBR4BNNEAFH7H5YF7V78)
- [Higg FEM Glossary](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731QBR4BNNEAFH7H5YF7V78)
- [Appendix A: FEM Foundations](https://support.worldly.io/hc/en-us/articles/41919624428187-fem-2025-summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4-0#h_01K731QHAZ9YKWDTCT6HBDSAEQ)

 

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](https://sasb.ifrs.org/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?

 

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