Higg Index Explained

In brief: The Higg Index is a suite of sustainability measurement tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to assess environmental and social performance across the apparel and footwear supply chain. The Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) scores materials on global warming potential, water use, chemistry and resource depletion, with lower scores meaning less impact. More than 290 brands use it, including Nike, Patagonia, H&M and Levi's. Other modules assess facilities (FEM) and company programmes (BRM).

What is the Higg Index?

The Higg Index is a suite of sustainability measurement tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to assess environmental and social performance across the apparel and footwear supply chain. Rather than a single label, it is a family of standardised assessments that let brands and manufacturers measure impact in a consistent, comparable way. At its centre is the Higg Materials Sustainability Index, or MSI, which scores individual materials on factors including global warming potential, water use, chemistry and resource depletion. Lower scores indicate reduced environmental impact, so the MSI gives material choices a clear, numbers-based footing.

The modules of the Higg Index

The Higg Index works at several levels of the supply chain. The Higg MSI handles material-level scoring, letting designers compare the impact of one fibre or fabric against another using lifecycle assessment data. The Higg FEM, or Facility Environmental Module, assesses the environmental performance of an individual manufacturing facility, covering areas such as energy, water and waste. The Higg BRM evaluates a company's brand-wide sustainability programme. Together these modules build a picture that runs from a single material, through the factory that processes it, up to the overall strategy of the business. Membership of the coalition exceeds 290 brands, including Nike, Patagonia, H&M and Levi's.

Should you pay attention to Higg scores?

The Higg MSI enables standardised material comparison using lifecycle assessment methodology, which is its main value to a shopper trying to make sense of sustainability claims. Brands use Higg data to guide material selection and to report environmental performance, and even a major membrane maker like Gore-Tex references the Higg MSI when reporting carbon-footprint reductions. For consumers, Higg provides a way to evaluate sustainability claims against standardised benchmarks rather than relying on marketing language alone. The important caveat is transparency: meaningful claims depend on verified data passing through Higg's third-party assurance programme, not self-reported figures.

Higg Index at OD's Designer Clothing

At OD's Designer Clothing, brands in our collection use Higg Index methodology to guide their material choices and to report environmental performance. Recognising the Higg name helps you spot when a sustainability claim rests on a standardised, comparable measurement. Look for sustainability information on individual product pages. We offer next-day delivery and free click and collect, and customers in the North West are welcome to visit our St Helens store.