Complete the FSLM

1. Key Information for FSLM Completion

Before starting the Higg FSLM, please review the key information and completion rules below:

  • The FSLM must be completed in English. This is to ensure that all users that you share with can access the data.
  • You must reach 95% completion before you can post the FSLM.
  • Steps: the Higg FSLM questions are broken down into steps.
    • Step 1 – Awareness and understanding of sources and systems
    • Step 2 – Setting baselines, targets, and tracking improvements
    • Step 3 – Leading aspirational practices
    • Step 1 is required for all facilities to complete. Facilities can decide to complete Step 2 and 3 questions in addition.
  • RefIDs: Each question in the FSLM has a unique identifier, called a Reference ID or RefID. These are located on the right side of each question box, and are helpful when requesting support for a specific question in the assessment.
  • Tooltips: Below some questions, there are short text boxes containing helpful information for answering the related question. 

2. Complete the Online Assessment

There are two options to complete the Higg FSLM, online on our Higg platform or using a downloadable Excel file. 

To access the online assessment, first go to the FSLM dashboard where the following information is displayed: 

  • Available Actions: the actions you can do based on your current status
  • Module status and verification information: your current module status and verification information if you start the verification
  • Facility information: facility’s basic information
  • Activity history: all the previous actions happened
  • Result reports: scores and results reports for your FSLM data.
  • View/edit or download the FSLM: you can click “Edit FSLM” to access your FSLM online or you can download the FSLM into an excel file or CSV file.

When you are ready to start the online assessment, click ‘View/Edit’ .

To navigate between the different sections, use the blue navigation bar on the left and click the section to jump to. To see the progress towards completion, refer to the completion rate at the top of the navigation bar.

You can click “Additional Filters” on the top bar to find out the unanswered questions.

To upload recommended or required support documentation, use the paperclip icon on the right side of each question box. 

3. Use the Offline Excel 

There are two options to complete the Higg FSLM, online on our Higg platform or using a downloadable Excel file.

To use the offline Excel file, go to the FSLM dashboard. There, click the Excel button to download the offline file.

This will download your current assessment into an excel file, including any data you have already completed in the online version of the FSLM. The file may take a minute or two to download.

Once the file has successfully downloaded, the file will ask you to enable macros. Make sure to enable macros to allow the file to fully function. 

Once macros are enabled, you can answer each question in the file. Make sure to save as you update module responses.

Once every question has been answered in the excel, save the file and fully close it. It will ask you to “Save the data for import”, make sure to select yes. This will ensure your responses are ready to import into the platform.

Then return to the platform and click ‘View/Edit FSLM’ on the FSLM dashboard. 

Once you’re in the online assessment, click ‘Import Module’ in the blue navigation bar. 

You will need to confirm the import, as all existing data in the online assessment will be erased and replaced with the data in the Excel file. 

4. Post & Share

Post

Once the FEM completion rate is 95%, you can post the assessment. Make sure you have fully completed every question in the assessment before posting.

Then the assessment can be posted by using the ‘Submit/Post Assessment’ button in the left navigation bar. The platform will only allow you to post once the completion rate is 95%. 

Share

If you are working with brand partners, you will need to share your FSLM with them through the Higg platform. To do this, go to the FSLM Modules page, and click ‘Share Module’.

Then select which module you want to share, and search for the correct brand account with their name or Higg ID, then select share. Once the brand accepts the share request, the module will be shared. 

Accepting a Share Request

If a brand partner has requested a module, you can access that in the FSLM Modules page under ‘Share Requests’. View the requested module and the account that has requested it, then approve or reject the request.

5. FSLM Data Transfer

To transfer an SLCP assessment completed on another accredited host’s platform, follow the steps below. 

  1. Go to the FSLM tab in your account and click ‘Link SLCP Account’. 
  2. Enter your SLCP ID and log in to your SLCP account. 
  3. Go to your verified assessments (in your SLCP account) and select “Overview of my SLCP Assessment” 
  4. Click the “Share with another accredited host” button and choose “Sustainable Apparel Coalition (Live)”. 
  5. Return to the FSLM tab in the Higg platform (portal.higg.org), and select “transfer SLCP assessment” 
  6. You will be presented with a pay screen where you can purchase the transfer. 
  7. Once you have completed the purchase, the transferred assessment will be available in your FSLM tab.