Author: sHq_LoGiNz

BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

Across the value chain, one theme keeps coming up in conversations with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and verifiers alike: data quality matters more than ever.

Whether a facility is tracking energy use, a brand is reporting Scope 3 emissions, or a regulator is evaluating compliance, decisions depend on credible, comparable data.

This is exactly why Cascale and Worldly have made data quality a top priority for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), available exclusively on Worldly. Over the past several cadences, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Higg FEM data — and in 2026, we’re going even further.

Why Data Quality Matters Now

The Higg FEM has become the industry’s foundation for environmental measurement at the facility level. Its role is broader than a single assessment: it feeds Scope 3 reporting, informs regulatory disclosures, and guides operational improvements inside factories. That means the quality of the underlying data isn’t just a technical question; it’s a credibility question.

The Higg FEM also continues to evolve. New data points, deeper quantitative detail, and alignment with reporting standards raise the bar for everyone — which is the right direction, but it also means we must continuously tune the system to support users and prevent errors.

What We’ve Improved — Why It Matters1. Better inputs: clearer content and stronger models

A major part of data quality is making sure staff at manufacturing facilities understand exactly what’s being asked and how to respond accurately. Based on feedback from Higg FEM users (yes, the manufacturers) and verifiers, we’ve:

• Rewritten and clarified questions that previously created confusion.
• Added new guidance and training materials in areas like chemical inventory management.
• Updated emissions models to align more closely with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
• Introduced new validation rules to prevent impossible answers, such as inconsistent water usage or incorrect chemical data.
• “Get to Know the Higg FEM” webinar series and live Q&A sessions offering section-by-section deep dives to help manufacturers get answers and feel confident before submitting their assessments.

By preventing errors before they enter the system, we reduce the need for corrections later — and improve the clarity of data for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.

2. Smarter technology to catch issues early

We’re working closely with Worldly, making the most of its innovative platform as a central solution to elevate data accuracy.

• Automated outlier detection now flags anomalous data during self-assessment. In Higg FEM 2024, the system identified more than 12,000 potential outliers, with facilities correcting 41 percent of them.
• Facilities can now see their previous cadence values, helping them recognize when their inputs look unusual.
• The AI-powered Worldly Assistant provides immediate access to guidance and documentation, supporting users at the moment of data entry.
• Improvements to page load times, question structures, and table-based inputs reduce friction and accidental errors.

Members are already making the most of these dynamic updates; learn more on the Cascale Connect Higg FEM Learning Hub (members only). And, our own HowtoHigg website has also been enhanced to ensure easier access to information on how to use the tools and understand the methodology behind them.

3. A stronger, more consistent verification ecosystem

Verification is a core pillar of data quality. It’s also one of the most intensive areas of work within Higg FEM — and one where we’ve made major strides.

• Cascale has 570 trained verifiers across 73 Verifier Bodies as of November 14, supported by detailed protocols, QA checks, and annual performance reviews.
• In 2024 and 2025, our QA program significantly reduced avoidable verification errors through new consistency checks and verifier guidance.
• We increased the number of desktop reviews, counter verifications, and duplicate verifications, giving us clearer insight into verifier performance.
• New Verifier Body profiles and an expanded Quality Assurance Dashboard offer more transparency than ever before.
• Our automated VPM QA Rules cut the number of verified Higg FEMs containing clear errors by more than half.

Taken together, these improvements provide stronger confidence in verified Higg FEM data — which is essential for brands using these metrics in their reporting and decision-making.

4. Preparing for the next generation of Higg FEM data quality

Looking ahead, 2026 will be an important year. We’re piloting a new approach to more frequent and timely verification of key quantitative data — such as energy use, water consumption, and shipped volumes, in cases where such frequent or timely verification is warranted (in line with our recently published Principles on the Frequency of Environmental Data Reporting). Instead of reviewing these inputs once a year, we’ll be testing quarterly verification using remote methods.

The goal is simple:

• Catch issues earlier
• Reduce year-end corrections
• Provide more timely, fully verified data
• Support manufacturers’ own internal performance management

We are also deepening technical alignment with ZDHC on verification expectations — a step toward reducing duplication and strengthening cross-industry consistency.

A Continuous Improvement Mindset

Data quality is not a destination; it’s an ongoing discipline. Every cadence teaches us something new. Every round of user feedback highlights opportunities to clarify questions or strengthen checks. And every trend in the data helps us understand where the industry is improving — and where more support is needed.

The Higg FEM is the most widely used environmental assessment for consumer goods manufacturing. That reach gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to continuously raise the bar, and to listen to the feedback our users are giving us.

By improving content, strengthening verification, and using technology more intelligently, we’re helping facilities, brands, and policymakers work with data they can trust — and ultimately enabling more credible environmental progress across the value chain.

Across the value chain, one theme keeps coming up in conversations with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and verifiers alike: data quality matters more than ever.

Whether a facility is tracking energy use, a brand is reporting Scope 3 emissions, or a regulator is evaluating compliance, decisions depend on credible, comparable data.

This is exactly why Cascale and Worldly have made data quality a top priority for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), available exclusively on Worldly. Over the past several cadences, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Higg FEM data — and in 2026, we’re going even further.

Why Data Quality Matters Now

The Higg FEM has become the industry’s foundation for environmental measurement at the facility level. Its role is broader than a single assessment: it feeds Scope 3 reporting, informs regulatory disclosures, and guides operational improvements inside factories. That means the quality of the underlying data isn’t just a technical question; it’s a credibility question.

The Higg FEM also continues to evolve. New data points, deeper quantitative detail, and alignment with reporting standards raise the bar for everyone — which is the right direction, but it also means we must continuously tune the system to support users and prevent errors.

What We’ve Improved — Why It Matters1. Better inputs: clearer content and stronger models

A major part of data quality is making sure staff at manufacturing facilities understand exactly what’s being asked and how to respond accurately. Based on feedback from Higg FEM users (yes, the manufacturers) and verifiers, we’ve:

• Rewritten and clarified questions that previously created confusion.
• Added new guidance and training materials in areas like chemical inventory management.
• Updated emissions models to align more closely with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
• Introduced new validation rules to prevent impossible answers, such as inconsistent water usage or incorrect chemical data.
• “Get to Know the Higg FEM” webinar series and live Q&A sessions offering section-by-section deep dives to help manufacturers get answers and feel confident before submitting their assessments.

By preventing errors before they enter the system, we reduce the need for corrections later — and improve the clarity of data for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.

2. Smarter technology to catch issues early

We’re working closely with Worldly, making the most of its innovative platform as a central solution to elevate data accuracy.

• Automated outlier detection now flags anomalous data during self-assessment. In Higg FEM 2024, the system identified more than 12,000 potential outliers, with facilities correcting 41 percent of them.
• Facilities can now see their previous cadence values, helping them recognize when their inputs look unusual.
• The AI-powered Worldly Assistant provides immediate access to guidance and documentation, supporting users at the moment of data entry.
• Improvements to page load times, question structures, and table-based inputs reduce friction and accidental errors.

Members are already making the most of these dynamic updates; learn more on the Cascale Connect Higg FEM Learning Hub (members only). And, our own HowtoHigg website has also been enhanced to ensure easier access to information on how to use the tools and understand the methodology behind them.

3. A stronger, more consistent verification ecosystem

Verification is a core pillar of data quality. It’s also one of the most intensive areas of work within Higg FEM — and one where we’ve made major strides.

• Cascale has 570 trained verifiers across 73 Verifier Bodies as of November 14, supported by detailed protocols, QA checks, and annual performance reviews.
• In 2024 and 2025, our QA program significantly reduced avoidable verification errors through new consistency checks and verifier guidance.
• We increased the number of desktop reviews, counter verifications, and duplicate verifications, giving us clearer insight into verifier performance.
• New Verifier Body profiles and an expanded Quality Assurance Dashboard offer more transparency than ever before.
• Our automated VPM QA Rules cut the number of verified Higg FEMs containing clear errors by more than half.

Taken together, these improvements provide stronger confidence in verified Higg FEM data — which is essential for brands using these metrics in their reporting and decision-making.

4. Preparing for the next generation of Higg FEM data quality

Looking ahead, 2026 will be an important year. We’re piloting a new approach to more frequent and timely verification of key quantitative data — such as energy use, water consumption, and shipped volumes, in cases where such frequent or timely verification is warranted (in line with our recently published Principles on the Frequency of Environmental Data Reporting). Instead of reviewing these inputs once a year, we’ll be testing quarterly verification using remote methods.

The goal is simple:

• Catch issues earlier
• Reduce year-end corrections
• Provide more timely, fully verified data
• Support manufacturers’ own internal performance management

We are also deepening technical alignment with ZDHC on verification expectations — a step toward reducing duplication and strengthening cross-industry consistency.

A Continuous Improvement Mindset

Data quality is not a destination; it’s an ongoing discipline. Every cadence teaches us something new. Every round of user feedback highlights opportunities to clarify questions or strengthen checks. And every trend in the data helps us understand where the industry is improving — and where more support is needed.

The Higg FEM is the most widely used environmental assessment for consumer goods manufacturing. That reach gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to continuously raise the bar, and to listen to the feedback our users are giving us.

By improving content, strengthening verification, and using technology more intelligently, we’re helping facilities, brands, and policymakers work with data they can trust — and ultimately enabling more credible environmental progress across the value chain.

Across the value chain, one theme keeps coming up in conversations with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and verifiers alike: data quality matters more than ever.

Whether a facility is tracking energy use, a brand is reporting Scope 3 emissions, or a regulator is evaluating compliance, decisions depend on credible, comparable data.

This is exactly why Cascale and Worldly have made data quality a top priority for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), available exclusively on Worldly. Over the past several cadences, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Higg FEM data — and in 2026, we’re going even further.

Why Data Quality Matters Now

The Higg FEM has become the industry’s foundation for environmental measurement at the facility level. Its role is broader than a single assessment: it feeds Scope 3 reporting, informs regulatory disclosures, and guides operational improvements inside factories. That means the quality of the underlying data isn’t just a technical question; it’s a credibility question.

The Higg FEM also continues to evolve. New data points, deeper quantitative detail, and alignment with reporting standards raise the bar for everyone — which is the right direction, but it also means we must continuously tune the system to support users and prevent errors.

What We’ve Improved — Why It Matters1. Better inputs: clearer content and stronger models

A major part of data quality is making sure staff at manufacturing facilities understand exactly what’s being asked and how to respond accurately. Based on feedback from Higg FEM users (yes, the manufacturers) and verifiers, we’ve:

• Rewritten and clarified questions that previously created confusion.
• Added new guidance and training materials in areas like chemical inventory management.
• Updated emissions models to align more closely with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
• Introduced new validation rules to prevent impossible answers, such as inconsistent water usage or incorrect chemical data.
• “Get to Know the Higg FEM” webinar series and live Q&A sessions offering section-by-section deep dives to help manufacturers get answers and feel confident before submitting their assessments.

By preventing errors before they enter the system, we reduce the need for corrections later — and improve the clarity of data for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.

2. Smarter technology to catch issues early

We’re working closely with Worldly, making the most of its innovative platform as a central solution to elevate data accuracy.

• Automated outlier detection now flags anomalous data during self-assessment. In Higg FEM 2024, the system identified more than 12,000 potential outliers, with facilities correcting 41 percent of them.
• Facilities can now see their previous cadence values, helping them recognize when their inputs look unusual.
• The AI-powered Worldly Assistant provides immediate access to guidance and documentation, supporting users at the moment of data entry.
• Improvements to page load times, question structures, and table-based inputs reduce friction and accidental errors.

Members are already making the most of these dynamic updates; learn more on the Cascale Connect Higg FEM Learning Hub (members only). And, our own HowtoHigg website has also been enhanced to ensure easier access to information on how to use the tools and understand the methodology behind them.

3. A stronger, more consistent verification ecosystem

Verification is a core pillar of data quality. It’s also one of the most intensive areas of work within Higg FEM — and one where we’ve made major strides.

• Cascale has 570 trained verifiers across 73 Verifier Bodies as of November 14, supported by detailed protocols, QA checks, and annual performance reviews.
• In 2024 and 2025, our QA program significantly reduced avoidable verification errors through new consistency checks and verifier guidance.
• We increased the number of desktop reviews, counter verifications, and duplicate verifications, giving us clearer insight into verifier performance.
• New Verifier Body profiles and an expanded Quality Assurance Dashboard offer more transparency than ever before.
• Our automated VPM QA Rules cut the number of verified Higg FEMs containing clear errors by more than half.

Taken together, these improvements provide stronger confidence in verified Higg FEM data — which is essential for brands using these metrics in their reporting and decision-making.

4. Preparing for the next generation of Higg FEM data quality

Looking ahead, 2026 will be an important year. We’re piloting a new approach to more frequent and timely verification of key quantitative data — such as energy use, water consumption, and shipped volumes, in cases where such frequent or timely verification is warranted (in line with our recently published Principles on the Frequency of Environmental Data Reporting). Instead of reviewing these inputs once a year, we’ll be testing quarterly verification using remote methods.

The goal is simple:

• Catch issues earlier
• Reduce year-end corrections
• Provide more timely, fully verified data
• Support manufacturers’ own internal performance management

We are also deepening technical alignment with ZDHC on verification expectations — a step toward reducing duplication and strengthening cross-industry consistency.

A Continuous Improvement Mindset

Data quality is not a destination; it’s an ongoing discipline. Every cadence teaches us something new. Every round of user feedback highlights opportunities to clarify questions or strengthen checks. And every trend in the data helps us understand where the industry is improving — and where more support is needed.

The Higg FEM is the most widely used environmental assessment for consumer goods manufacturing. That reach gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to continuously raise the bar, and to listen to the feedback our users are giving us.

By improving content, strengthening verification, and using technology more intelligently, we’re helping facilities, brands, and policymakers work with data they can trust — and ultimately enabling more credible environmental progress across the value chain.

As previously seen on the CSRHub blog.

By Bahar Gidwani

When we founded CSRHub in 2007, we imagined bringing together and harmonizing the “wisdom of the sustainability crowd.” We wanted to bring together the disparate views on corporate ESG performance from Wall Street analysts, not for profit researchers, membership organizations, government databases, and advocacy groups. We started adding data sources to our platform, one by one. We imagined that we might at some point ingest 100, 200…maybe even 500 sources?

We recently ingested expert data source number 1,000! Because of the breadth and depth of the information we uncovered, we now provide CSRHub ratings and coverage on 60,000 entities from 159 countries. We are proud of reaching these milestones. We will keep bringing in data from our existing sources and adding new ones. (We add about 20,000,000 new data items to our base of 800 million each month.)

Achieved goals feels good. But, what about the future? How best to achieve our mission of enabling transparent access to company sustainability data and linking back to all our sources?  Given the current market, what unique and meaningful contribution can we make to the success of the companies we follow?

One area that is expanding is helping companies manage their supply chains. Thanks to the growth in our coverage, we often cover more than 80% of the “spend” in a corporate supply chain. Adding data via one of our AI research partners can yield over 90% coverage. In less than a week, we can generate a report that helps supply chain managers look for sustainability-related risks and opportunities. We can improve resilience and help a company tie its supply chain goals to its overall sustainability framework.

We provide data directly—we have a RESTful API, Excel-based tools, and via support platforms such as Snowflake, Amazon Data Exchange, and FactSet. We also share our data with supply chain management software companies. These platforms combine our ratings with other signals to add our outside-in, expert perspective to the data suppliers self report.

A second area we are focusing on is support for the consultants and advisors who help companies report their ESG performance, try to improve their ratings, and comply with ESG regulations. We now offer products that help guide reporting, improve engagement with the ESG rating community, and prepare for frameworks such as CSRD, TNFD, the SDGs, SASB, and emerging California regulations.

Over a half million people around the world visited CSRHub’s website and used our top-level ratings this year. Thousands of customers bought data and tools from us directly or through our expanding list of partners. Rather than setting a new numeric goal, we’ll continue to collaborate with our sustainability community to increase corporate resilience and make the world more sustainable.

Bahar Gidwani is CTO and Co-founder of CSRHub.  He has built and run large technology-based businesses for many years. Bahar holds a CFA, worked on Wall Street with Kidder, Peabody, and with McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to a number of major companies and currently serves on the board of several software and Web companies. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy. He plays bridge, races sailboats, and is based in New York City.

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers the most comprehensive global set of expert consensus sustainability ratings, information, and tools. Clients use CSRHub’s decisive data platform for global benchmarking, supply and value chain risk assessment and compliance readiness solutions. Founded in 2007, CSRHub covers over 60,000 public and private companies, and provides ESG performance scores on 42,000 companies from 134 industries in 158 countries. Our Big Data platform uses algorithms to aggregate, normalize and weight ESG metrics from 1,000 sources to produce a strong consensus signal on corporate sustainability performance.

Interested in learning more about CSRHub?