Virtual Higg Index Manufacturer Forum - AMER

The Higg Index Manufacturer Forum is returning to the Americas (AMER) Region this December! This Virtual Manufacturer Forum is ideal for AMER apparel and textile manufacturers, and also brands/retailers who have started capturing their supply chains' Environmental and/or Social and labor performance using the Higg Facility Tools. Timing will be suitable for those joining from the EMEA region as well. This 2-day event will allow participants to fully understand how to optimize their use of the Higg FEM and Higg FSLM tools. 

WHO should attend?
The Forum is suitable for manufacturers, supply chain specialists, and service providers in the Americas and EMEA regions who want to understand the Higg Facility Tools. Content will be most appropriate for beginner- to intermediate-level Higg users.

The event will be led in English. Spanish and Portuguese simultaneous interpretation is available in all presentation sessions, but will not be available for networking sessions. All text will be displayed in English.

Date & Time: 
December 1 & 2 daily:
First session: 7.30am - 9am (PST)  / 12.30pm - 2pm (BRT) / 4.30pm - 6pm (CET)
Second session: 10am - 11.30am (PST) / 3pm - 4.30pm (BRT) / 7pm - 8:30pm (CET)

Agenda

• Higg FEM Overview, Air Emissions and Chemical | Dec 1 first session
  
  This session will provide an overview of the Higg FEM, directed to companies that are beginners on the tool, especially small and medium-sized facilities. In addition to a review of the tool’s main functions and outcomes through a platform demo, the session will present analysis of beginner and SME facility performance trend and will suggest helpful resources, recommendations, and best practices for new facilities. The session will also cover basic aspects of the Higg FEM Air Emissions and Chemicals sections.
  
  
• Wastewater and Higg Facility Tools Verification | Dec 1 second session
  
  This session will cover basic aspects of the Higg FEM Wastewater section. Attendees will understand the different applicability pathways and expectations from facilities for completing this section successfully.
  
  The second part of this session will focus on Higg FEM Verification framework. We will introduce the verification program and discuss the verifier application process, verification protocols and quality assurance process. Next we will hear from a facility and a verifier about their experience with verification.
  
  

• The Evolution of the Higg FEM: Where We Have Come and What To Expect| Dec 2 first session
  
  SAC makes incremental changes to the Higg FEM every year in order to integrate feedback we receive from users and to ensure we are keeping up to date with the industry. With the latest release of 2020 Higg FEM in early November, changes were made to Higg FEM to help better refine the tool, which continues to align with the changing environment toward sustainability. This session will focus on what these changes are and where you can find them, why changes are needed, and how facilities can equip themselves for continuous improvements in a changing environment.

• Higg FSLM | Dec 2 second session
  
  This session is geared toward supporting the industry to adopt fairer worker rights and improved safety and livelihoods using the Higg FSLM. The session will introduce the Higg FSLM, the relationship between the Higg FSLM and the Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), and will share practical insights on how to approach the Higg FSLM self assessment and verification. The session will also have manufacturers share their experiences in assessing performance & setting targets for improvement.
  
  This session includes a networking session at the end so that attendees can connect with other industry professionals.
  

Registration:

• Ticket price
  • Non-SAC members: USD $75 pax
  • SAC members: USD $50 pax; one complimentary ticket is available with the use of your unique member code. Please contact Janet So (janet.so@apparelcoalition.org) for details.
    

General guidelines

• Once registration is complete, each attendee will receive two calendar invitations. Please contact sacmeetings@apparelcoalition.org in case of any difficulty.
• Meeting links should not be shared with others. Attendees who are not pre-registered will be denied access.
• Attendees must install the Zoom app on their desktop/mobile device and should they not join via a website browser, they will not be able to use the interpretation function nor attend networking session.
• The event will be presented in English, with Spanish and Portuguese interpretation available. Interpretation will be available in the presentation sessions but not networking session. All text will be displayed in English.
• The final agenda will be shared in advance of the event for confirmation. 
• Virtual Manufacturer Forums for the APAC region will be organised on Nov 25 & 26.

The event is sponsored by

THE SUSTAINABLE APPAREL COALITION (SAC) is an industry-wide group of more than 250 leading apparel, footwear, and textile, brands, retailers, suppliers, service providers, trade associations, nonprofits/NGOs, and academic institutions working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of products around the world. The SAC was incorporated as a 501c(6) nonprofit organisation and launched the groundbreaking Higg Index suite of tools in 2011. www.apparelcoalition.org