--- title: 2026 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0 description: Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0 (For FEM 2026) --- [Skip to content](https://support.worldly.io/summary-of-updates-to-the-higg-fem-4.0-for-fem-2026#main-content) [Submit a request](https://support.worldly.io/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Worldly logo](https://support.worldly.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Worldly%20Media%20Kit/Worldly%20Logos/Worldly_LogoTM_Red.png?width=250&height=61&name=Worldly_LogoTM_Red.png)](https://support.worldly.io/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Submit a request](https://support.worldly.io/kb-tickets/new) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://support.worldly.io/?hsLang=en) 2. [Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM)](https://support.worldly.io/higg-facility-environmental-module-fem?hsLang=en) 3. [General](https://support.worldly.io/higg-facility-environmental-module-fem?hsLang=en#general) # 2026 Summary of Updates to the Higg FEM 4.0 This summary of updates is to provide a detailed level of content changes from Higg FEM 2025 to Higg FEM 2026 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. **Facility Site Info** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. | Agent/Trader | NEW Question added “Is your facility an Agent/Trader with a Distribution Centre?” (Self Assessed only) | | --- | --- | | Product Category | UPDATED Answer Option “Packaging” | | Industry Sector | UPDATED Answer Option “Packaging” | | Question 5 | Added clarification on scope of incoming water pre-treatment answer option. | | Question 6 | UPDATED Question Text “Has your facility participated in industry programs related to **environmental** sustainability or have **environmental** sustainability related certificates valid during the reporting year?” to better reflect the intent of the question. NEW Industry Programs/Certification Schemes added for this question. | | Question 7 | Added clarification on in-scope audits/assessments. | **EMS** - ISO 14001:2026 notes and links have been updated. - ZDHC-related links have been updated. **Energy** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. - Additional notes added for requirements on reporting energy data. | Question 1 | Additional guidance added on how to select sources of energy for your facility. NEW Answer Option “SURE (SUstainable REsources Verification Scheme)” added in the middle of FEM2025 for sub-question “Under what certification system is this biomass certified under?”   UPDATED Sub-question Text “Does your facility have the ownership of **all** the associated renewable energy credits/carbon offsets from these purchased renewables?” to better reflect the intent of the question. | | --- | --- | | Question 5 | Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 6 | Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 7 | NEW unit of measure “Therms” added. | | Question 8 | NEW unit of measure “Therms” added. | | Question 9 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 10 | NEW unit of measure “Therms” added. Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. | | Question 11 | UPDATED Answer Option “Hiring a certified professional energy engineer to conduct an energy assessment **/ audit**” for sub-question “Does your facility utilize any of these to help you identify?” | | Question 19 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 21 | NEW sub-question added “Please enter your 8 digit SBTI ID (sbti\_id)” | **Water** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. | Question 2 | Scoring guidance added for this question. | | --- | --- | | Question 3 | Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 4 | NEW Answer Option “Used for non-potable purposes (ie. For washrooms)” added for sub-question “What is the method of disposal of the rejected water?” | | Question 7 | Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 8 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. Scoring guidance added for this question. | | Question 10,11,12 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. | | Question 18 | UPDATED Question Text “What is your achievement for change (in %) in water use from this source compared to its baseline? **(Enter a negative value for reduction)**” Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 19 | UPDATED Question Text “What is your achievement for change (in %) in water use from this source compared to its baseline? **(Enter a negative value for reduction)**” Scoring guidance updated for this question. | **Wastewater** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. - Provide clarification on “Non-contact cooling water” and “Contact cooling water”. - ZDHC-related links have been updated. | Applicability Question 2 | Additional guidance added to clarify definition of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). | | --- | --- | | Question 1 | Guidance added on how to report recycled water in wastewater volume reporting. | | Question 5 | Guidance added on how to report design capacity and average daily treatment volume for multiple treatment systems. | | Question 8 | Guidance added on the use of historical sludge testing reports. | | Question 12 | UPDATED Sub-question Text “Hazardous Waste Treatment **(Other)**” | | Question 15 | UPDATED Sub-question Text “Hazardous Waste Treatment **(Other)**” | | Question 16 | Guidance added on how to respond to the sub-question “Is your Septic System adequately designed for the septic wastewater volume generated at your facility?” UPDATED Sub-question Text “Hazardous Waste Treatment **(Other)**” | | Question 17 | UPDATED Main Question Text “**Is your facility required to test any wastewater based on legal requirements?**” from FEM2025. | **Air Emissions** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. - ZDHC-related links have been updated. | Applicability Question 2 | Additional guidance added on selection of spot cleaners as a chemical type used in facility processes. | | --- | --- | | Question 1 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 2 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 3 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 7 | NEW Answer Options added for sub-question “Please indicate which Air standard you are reporting against:” | **Waste** - Provide clarification on quantitative data input. | Question 1 | UPDATED Answer Option “Slag (Non-Hazardous) **including boiler ash**” | | --- | --- | | Question 2 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 3 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 4 | UPDATED Sub-question text “**What is the final disposal method for this waste?**” | | Question 5 | UPDATED Answer Options “Expired/unused/used chemicals **(solvents, reactants, etc.)**” and “Slag (Hazardous) **including non-coal boiler ash**” Guidance added to clarify classification of empty chemical drums and containers used for production and operations. Guidance added on how to report boiler ash generated from coal, hazardous biomass wastes, and hazardous combustion residual waste from fabric or other solid wastes. | | Question 6 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 7 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 8 | UPDATED Sub-question text “**What is the final disposal method for this waste?**” | | Question 14 | NEW Answer Option “Emergency Responses” added for sub-question “Select all topics included in your training:" Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 15 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. | | Question 16 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. | | Question 17 | NEW guidance added for this question. | | Question 18 | Additional guidance added on baselines in the middle of FEM2025. | | Question 24 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | | Question 25 | Scoring guidance updated for this question. | **Chemical Management** - ZDHC-related links have been updated. - Updated examples of facilities that use chemicals in production. - Updated guidance on reporting of spot cleaners as a chemical use type. | Applicability Question 1 | UPDATED Answer Option “**Spot cleaners - Spot cleaners are chemicals used to remove contaminated spots or non-permanent stains from materials or final products such as garments, fabric, shoes etc.**” | | --- | --- | | Applicability Question 2 | UPDATED definition of commodity chemical. | | Applicability Question 4 | NEW Answer Options “OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT” and “OEKO-TEX STeP Standard” added for this applicability question. | **Higg FEM Glossary** - Reviewed and Updated FEM Glossary where necessary. **Appendix A - Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP)** - FEM Foundations has been discontinued from FEM2026 onwards, and will no longer be available to complete after December 31st, 2026. - Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) has been added beginning with the FEM2026 cadence. 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