With the growing global focus on environmental protection and social responsibility, the textile industry is looking to strengthen its business practices through sustainability and transparency. In this context, the HIGG certification has become a high-profile assessment tool. We will walk you through the HIGG certification process to help you better understand how this certification system works.
1. Learn about HIGG certification
Before you start the HIGG certification process, you first need to understand the basic concepts of HIGG certification. HIGG certification is a set of assessment tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to assess the environmental and social impact of textiles and footwear products throughout the ** chain. The certification, based on the Higg Index, provides a standardized self-assessment methodology to help businesses identify opportunities for improvement and demonstrate their sustainability and transparency.
2. Overview of the Higg certification process
1).Registration & Preparation: Businesses will first need to register and create an account on the HIGG Certified Official**. Next, companies need to collect relevant data and information for subsequent self-assessment and third-party verification.
2).Self-assessment: Companies use the Higg Index to conduct self-assessments, covering environmental, social and labor rights and other aspects. During the assessment process, companies are required to fill out a detailed questionnaire that provides information about their ** chain, production processes and sustainable practices.
3).Third-party verification: After completing the self-assessment, the company has the option to submit the assessment results to a SAC-recognized third-party verification body for verification. The third-party verification body will verify the data and information provided by the enterprise to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the assessment results.
4).Reporting & Improvement: After third-party verification, companies will receive a HIGG certification report. The report will detail the company's environmental, social and labour performance, as well as recommendations and opportunities for improvement. Companies need to make improvements based on the report's recommendations and keep an eye on the environmental and social impacts in the chain.
3. Key steps of HIGG certification
1. Data collection and collation: Before conducting a self-assessment, companies need to collect and collate data and information about their ** chain, production processes and sustainable practices. This includes data on energy consumption, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, labor rights protection, and more.
2. Fill in the questionnaire: Enterprises need to fill in the HIGG index questionnaire in detail to provide information about their ** chain, production process and sustainable practices. The questionnaire covers a wide range of aspects, including raw material procurement, production process, waste disposal, labor rights protection, etc.
3. Third-party verification: After completing the self-assessment, enterprises can choose to submit the assessment results to a third-party verification body recognized by SAC for verification. The third-party verification body will verify the data and information provided by the enterprise to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the assessment results. This step is essential to ensure the impartiality and credibility of the Higg certification.
4. Reporting and improvement: After third-party verification, the enterprise will obtain the HIGG certification report. The report will detail the company's environmental, social and labour performance, as well as recommendations and opportunities for improvement. Companies need to make improvements based on the report's recommendations and keep an eye on the environmental and social impacts in the chain. This step is critical to driving continuous improvement and achieving sustainability goals.
The HIGG certification process is a comprehensive, standardized assessment process designed to drive sustainability in the textile industry. By understanding and following the HIGG certification process, businesses can comprehensively assess the environmental and social impacts in their chain, identify opportunities for improvement, and demonstrate their sustainability and transparency. This not only helps to enhance the competitiveness and brand image of the company, but also provides consumers with more environmentally friendly and sustainable options. Let's work together to create a better future.