Higg Index is a self-assessment tool developed by SAC aimed at measuring the sustainability impact of clothing and footwear products. The Factory Environmental Module (FEM), also known as the Factory Environmental Module, is one of the modules at the factory level. Brands, retailers, and manufacturers can use it to understand the environmental conditions of their factories, in order to make improvements and reduce negative impacts on the environment.
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) was established in 2011 and is an organization composed of brand owners, retailers, manufacturers, government and non-governmental organizations, as well as industry experts, representing over one-third of the global clothing and footwear market. It is committed to setting common goals to reduce the adverse effects of global clothing and footwear manufacturing and sales on the ecological environment and society.
Wal Mart, one of the start-up members of SAC, is also increasingly attaching importance to and relying on Higg FEM. In June 2021, Wal Mart explicitly required clothing and home textile suppliers to complete a Higg FEM self-assessment and verification before 2022.

