7 Difference between SLCP and Higg FSLM

TESTCOO/October 19, 2023

The Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) is implementing a Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) to reduce audit duplication and to free up resources to improve working conditions. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) has adopted SLCP’s Converged Assessment Framework as the backbone of the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM).

Many stakeholders ask for clarification on the difference between SLCP and FSLM. The following 7 parts explain this issue.

1. Definitions

SLCP is a multi-stakeholder initiative, independent from the SAC. The mission of SLCP is to implement a Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) to reduce audit duplication and support efforts to improve working conditions in global supply chains.

Higg is the sustainability insights platform for consumer goods industries, delivering software and services for measuring, managing, and sharing supply chain performance data.?

2. Relationship to Converged Assessment Framework (CAF)

SLCP owns the CAF. The CAF consists of a Data Collection Tool, a verification methodology and guidance documents. SLCP signatories created this tool to replace all other social audits and reduce audit fatigue.

Both Higg and SAC share SLCP’s vision of a common social & labor tool that can be used by everyone – and therefore adopted the CAF as the foundation of the Higg Facility Social Labor Module. FSLM uses questions in the Data Collection Tool, the verification methodology, and the guidance structure of the CAF.

3. If I want to complete a social & labor assessment with the CAF, which do I need?

SLCP does not provide a platform for facilities to complete social & labor assessments – facilities must work with one of SLCP’s “Accredited Host” platforms. SLCP provides a Gateway which is the central repository for all SLCP verified data and links all the platforms together, making it possible for facilities to share data among Accredited Hosts. It is free for all facilities to use the Gateway.

Higg is one of SLCP’s Accredited Hosts and the Higg FSLM is available on the Higg platform. By using the Higg FSLM, you can complete a social & labor assessment with the CAF.? All you need to do is to link your SLCP Gateway account to your Higg. org account, and then you can complete the self-assessment (FSLM) and verification (vFSLM).

4. What if I want to do just a self-assessment, is this possible?

SLCP requires verification. Only verified assessments can be shared from the Accredited Hosts to the SLCP Gateway.?

The Higg FSLM tool allows facilities to complete self-assessments and verified assessments and to share the data with other Higg users. Only verified assessments (vFSLM) can be shared to the SLCP Gateway.

5. Scoring

SLCP does not provide scored data – all SLCP verified data is “standard agnostic” which means it has no scoring or value judgement. SLCP provides flexibility to users to apply their own scoring.

The Higg FSLM includes scoring – the scoring methodology has been developed by SAC to help users interpret and understand the data for a facility to assess current performance and set targets for performance improvement.

6. This system is pretty complicated! What are the benefits?

The SLCP system is designed so you can replace all your social compliance audits with one SLCP assessment. Facilities can share their assessment data with all business partners. A vFSLM can be shared via the SLCP Gateway to other Accredited Hosts or directly to clients.

The Higg FSLM is fully linked to and compatible with the SLCP Gateway. This means it is super easy to share SLCP assessments completed on other Accredited Hosts to the Higg platform. This reduces the need for repetitive audits! SLCP assessments completed on other Accredited Hosts can also contribute to Higg FSLM membership requirements for SAC members.

7. How will verified SLCP assessments on other Accredited Hosts contribute to SAC’s Higg FSLM requirements?

The best way to ensure that SLCP assessments completed on other Accredited Host platforms count toward the Higg FSLM requirements is for facilities to share their verified SLCP assessment to the Higg Co platform via the SLCP Gateway. This allows users to access the full assessment data with the Higg FSLM scoring on the Higg platform.

Verified SLCP assessments completed on other Accredited Hosts will count towards Higg FSLM requirements. You can now easily share assessment status data to the Higg platform from other Accredited Hosts.?