One Higg FEM and SLCP – green practices for well-known brands

1、H&M

Higg FEM: Driving the green upgrade of the supply chain

Starting in 2021, H&M has comprehensively required its suppliers in the Far East (e.g., China, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.) to conduct Higg FEM verification. This initiative aims to ensure that H&M's supply chain meets the standards it sets in terms of environmental protection.

Higg FEM verification not only helps H&M assess the environmental performance of its suppliers, but also provides its suppliers with the direction and motivation to make improvements, contributing to sustainability throughout the supply chain.

2. Disney

SLCP Verification Report: Strengthening Supply Chain Transparency

Effective January 10, 2024, Disney has implemented a new verification requirement for authorized manufacturers to accept SLCP verification reports as valid evidence to meet their comprehensive labor standards audit requirements.

Through the SLCP verification report, Disney is able to more effectively assess the social and environmental responsibility performance of its supply chain and promote more responsible production practices among producers, which not only improves supply chain transparency and compliance, but also promotes continuous improvement in labor rights, safety and health, and environmental protection.

Two What is Higg FEM and Higg SLCP certification?

Higg FEM (Higg Facility Environmental Module).

It is a sustainability assessment tool proposed by the Sustainable Apparel Alliance (SAC) in the United States and is widely used in the apparel, footwear, and textile industries, with the primary goal of informing brands, retailers, and manufacturers about the environmental sustainability performance of their respective facilities so that they can make improvements to reduce negative impacts on sustainability.

The Higg FEM assessment covers environmental management systems, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, water use, wastewater, air emissions (if applicable), waste management, and chemical use and management. Manufacturers, factories and brands can use this tool to assess their environmental performance and develop strategies for improvement.

SLCP (Social and Labor Convergence Project)

It is a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to build a standardized social and labor efficiency evaluation method in the footwear and apparel manufacturing supply chain through the joint efforts of the whole industry, and achieve true sustainable development of the whole industry chain.

SLCP is widely used in apparel, textiles, furniture, footwear and other industries, and is expanding into the consumer electronics industry. Its goal is to improve the working conditions of social labour and at the same time to increase the comparability of socio-labour data.

Three The relationship between Higg FEM and SLCP

Complementarity of Higg FEM and SLCP

Higg FEM and SLCP complement each other in the apparel, footwear and textile industries. The Higg FEM focuses on environmental sustainability assessments, while the SLCP focuses on social and labor assessments. Both are common