MSI 3.11 Update

The Higg MSI 3.11 Update includes:

• LCA for Experts (GaBi) background database update
• 1 new Mineral-based Materials category, which includes:
  • 7 raw material options
• 26 new processes which include:
  • 5 next-gen materials
  • 5 cotton fiber raw material options
  • 8 leather processes
  • 3 textiles wet processing options
  • 5 zippers
• 3 data updates from 3 previous data submitters

LCA for Experts (GaBi) background database update

All midpoints and scores have changed due to the update to the LCA for Experts (formerly known as GaBi) database. 

Background datasets, such as raw materials and energy, are used to build models of each process. MSI version 3.11 has been updated to LCA for Experts content version 2025.1. 

Changes in scores +/-10% are considered normal and are expected across the database. 

1 new Mineral-based Materials category, which includes:

7 raw material options

1. Stoneware
2. Natural stone
3. Glass ceramic
4. Porcelain
5. Wax
6. Container glass
7. Flat glass

26 new processes which include: 

5 next-gen materials

1. Hemp fiber - Banana fiber made from banana tree waste from plantations after the fruit has been harvested
2. Polyurethane (PU) foam - Elastopan produced through a chemical reaction between polyols and isocyanates under controlled conditions
3. Nylon fabric/Polyamide (PA) plastic - Loopamid made from 100 percent textile waste.
4. Nylon fabric/Polyamide (PA) plastic - Nylon 6 from EcoLactam IMPACT produced from fossil resources, but uses Fibrant’s proprietary technologies to achieve up to 70% lower carbon footprint compared to regular nylon produced at industrial scale.
5. Viscose/rayon fabric - Circulose fiber made from 100% recycled textiles.

5 cotton fiber raw material options

1. Cotton fiber {Materra} (India)
2. Cotton fiber (Peruvian Pima Cotton) {APP/WTS}
3. Cotton fiber {Better Cotton} (China)
4. Cotton fiber {Better Cotton} (Tajikistan)
5. Cotton fiber {Better Cotton} (Pakistan)
6. Repurposed denim, post-consumer {Bank & Vogue} (includes impacts from all other stages)

8 leather processes

1. 1 leather material from Asiatan, which include the following processes:
   1. Bovine (cow) hide, Antique Rave White {Asiatan}
   2. Finished leather, Antique Rave White {Asiatan} (includes tanning, re-tanning, drying, finishing)
2. 3 leather materials from ECCO leather, which include the following processes:
   1. Bovine (cow) hide, Jabuck {ECCO Leather}
   2. Finished leather, Jabuck {ECCO Leather} (includes tanning, re-tanning, drying, finishing)
   3. Bovine (cow) hide, PGMTD Floater {ECCO Leather}
   4. Finished leather, PGMTD Floater {ECCO Leather} (includes tanning, re-tanning, drying, finishing)
   5. Bovine (cow) hide, PGMTD Soft 1 {ECCO Leather}
   6. Finished leather, PGMTD Soft 1 {ECCO Leather} (includes tanning, re-tanning, drying, finishing)

3 textiles wet processing options

1. Slasher dyeing
2. Rope dyeing
3. Heat Dry

5 zippers

1. Size 3 Polyester Coil NATULON Plus® closed end zipper, 20cm length, produced in Vietnam {YKK Corporation}
2. Size 3 Metal EXCELLA® NATULON® closed end zipper, 20cm length, produced in Italy {YKK Corporation}
3. Size 5 Metal EXCELLA® NATULON® closed end zipper, 20cm length, produced in Italy {YKK Corporation}
4. Size 5 Plastic VISLON® AquaGuard® (Matte Film) NATULON® separating zipper, 60cm length, produced in Taiwan {YKK Corporation}
5. Size 5 Plastic VISLON® AquaGuard® (Shiny Film) NATULON® separating zipper, 60cm length, produced in Taiwan {YKK Corporation}

3 data updates from 3 previous data submitters

Updated background dataset for 27 processes from Germany to China for: 

1. Nylon 6
2. Nylon 12 
3. Synthetic leather
4. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)  

Updated LCA model for cotton:

1. Cotton fiber {Better Cotton} (India)
2. Cotton fiber {US Cotton Trust Protocol}

Updated LCA for the following process:

1. Size 3 Polyester Coil NATULON Plus® closed end zipper with CPSC compatible slider, 20cm length, produced in Vietnam {YKK Corporation}