The Higg Index is a suite of standardized tools developed by the Cascale for assessing the environmental and societal impact of entire value chains in the apparel and footwear industries.
Higg FEM
The Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) is a self-assessment tool for the environmental aspects of manufacturing facilities in apparel and footwear supply chains. It consists of seven assessment items: Environmental Management Systems, Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Water Use, Wastewater, Emissions to Air, Waste Management, and Chemical Management. Only facilities that have received certification by a Cascale-certified third party are allowed to publicly disclose their scores.
Higg FEM Performance
Completion Certificate
Accomplishments
We are implementing the Higg FEM in our main manufacturing plants in Japan and overseas, with more plants continuing to be added. We are working to meet our own wastewater management standards and chemical substance management standards (YKK RSL), which are based on ZDHC MRSL, OEKO-TEX and AFIRM. To bolster this effort, we are carrying out training programs for our operating companies and working to improve our Higg FEM performance.
Future Targets
To ensure transparency of Higg FEM assessments, we will further pursue Verification (vFEM) via third-party certification. As we comply with the regulatory frameworks in each country/region, we will work to improve our score globally and publicly disclose performance improvements at our various manufacturing locations.
Higg FSLM
The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) is an industry standard tool for promoting safe and fair social and labor conditions for all workers engaged in apparel and footwear supply chains. Assessment items include Recruitment and Hiring, Working Hours, Wages and Benefits, Worker Treatment, Worker Involvement, Health and Safety, Termination, Management Systems, and Above and beyond.
Higg FSLM Performance
Verified Scores
2024
* These plants did not complete third-party verification related to Step2 and Step3.
Completion Certificate
Accomplishments
As with the Higg FEM, we are currently adding more plants for implementation of this module, focusing especially on our main manufacturing plants overseas. YKK Global Criteria of Compliance (YGCC) audits are based on the YKK Philosophy "Cycle of Goodness" and ISO 26000 standards. We are implementing them across the YKK Group at manufacturing locations, and proceeding to build safe and secure workplace environments and provide working environments in accordance with regulatory frameworks in each country/region and industry norms.
Future Targets
We will improve working environments across the entire supply chain by working to meet the "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights "in customers’ and business partners’ supply chains. We will promote public disclosure of our Higg FSLM performance for each manufacturing location in Japan and overseas while maintaining transparency through regular audits by third-party organizations.