SAN FRANCISCO — March 1, 2021 — More than 500 global brands have committed to using the latest version of the Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM), a value chain sustainability assessment tool released today by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and its technology partner Higg. Walmart; Patagonia; Nike, Inc.; H&M; and VF Corporation are among the companies that will use the Higg BRM over the next two years to gain a deeper understanding of their own operations and their value chain practices with the goal of improving social and environmental impacts and working together to fight the climate crisis.

Starting today through June 30, SAC member brands and retailers have the opportunity to use the Higg BRM to self-assess the social and environmental sustainability performance of their 2020 business and value chain operations. Then, from May to December, companies have the option to verify their self-assessments through an approved third-party verification body.

One of the five Higg Index sustainability measurement tools, the Higg BRM enables evaluation of the social and environmental impacts of brands across a wide range of business operations, from packaging and transportation of goods, to the environmental impact of stores and offices and the well-being of factory employees. The assessment measures 11 environmental impact areas and 16 social impact areas. Through the Higg sustainability platform, companies of all sizes can uncover opportunities to improve their supply chains, from lowering carbon emissions, reducing water use, and ensuring supply chain workers are treated fairly.

“As part of our sustainability strategy, do.MORE, we have committed to continuously increase our ethical standards and by 2023 only work with partners who align with them,” said Kate Heiny, Director Sustainability at Zalando SE. “We are excited to be collaborating with the SAC to scale a global standard around measurement of brand performance. By using the Higg BRM as the basis for our mandatory brand assessments, we have comparable sustainability data at brand level to jointly develop standards that move us forward as an industry.”

“The Higg BRM helped us come together and collect meaningful data points to continue our development of a responsible, purpose-driven brand,” said Claudia Boyer, Design Director for Buffalo Corporate Men. “It allowed us to benchmark our current environmental performance and set bold targets for reduction of chemicals and water consumption in our denim production. The Higg BRM fueled our appetite for continuous improvement of our sustainability performance.”

“As Ardene grows and scales to new markets, it’s important for us to continue to prioritize social and environmental performance. What better way to guide us than with the Higg BRM, whose holistic approach reflects our own brand values of inclusivity and empowerment,” said Donna Cohen Ardene Sustainability Lead. “The Higg BRM has helped us to pinpoint where we need to put more effort in order for us to reach our sustainability goals, and equally importantly has helped expand our focus on sustainability to our entire supply chain.”

In Europe, where corporate sustainability is at the forefront of the regulatory agenda, businesses must ensure their operations follow responsible practices. Companies can use the Higg BRM to get ahead of the curve when it comes to future legislative regulations. They can evaluate their value chain practices and their partners’ practices against the baseline of the anticipated policy following the OECD Due Diligence guidance for the apparel and footwear sector. The latest version of the Higg BRM features a responsible purchasing practices section, emphasizing the importance of integrating due diligence into sourcing decision making processes. This update reflects the evolving nature of the Higg Index, and the SAC’s and Higg’s commitment to transforming consumer goods industries through the Higg tools and technology. By design, the tools will continue to evolve, leveraging new data, technology, and regulations to help brands identify key risks and opportunities to reduce impact.

“In 2025 we aim to sell only more sustainable brands; defined as brands who have completed an OECD aligned due diligence process and who work to address their most material impacts with clear progress. The Higg BRM plays a critical role in our journey as it will offer us deep insight and data across all value chain aspects: from materials and production processes to logistics and end of life,” said de Bijenkorf Head of Sustainable Business, Justin Pariag. “We will use this information to better understand our brand partners’ sustainability ambitions, progress, and challenges, so that we can highlight and celebrate their successes and work collectively on improvements.”


Post time: Apr-11-2021