Business publication Quartz has released a report publishing the results of its investigations into the environmental claims made by H&M. The report exposed the discrepancies in the ratings given by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition using its Higg Sustainability Index. The ratings enabled customers to compare their purchases in relation to its environmental impact.

However, H&M proved the results on the index to be contrary to actual impact of the garment on environment. These discrepancies are a result of retailer ignoring negative signs in Higgs Index score, says Quartz. Using an example from the H&M website, Quartz displayed how the figures did not match the data provided on the Higgs website.

While most products on H&M website did not include the ratings, those that did were featured in a special page about their environmental record. Quartz stated words such as ‘less’, and ‘reduction’ were hard coded into H&M's website to portray that their environmental scorecards offer a green picture of their clothing.

The Higg Index has faced rampant criticism ever since H&M and other clothing retailers launched the effort. George Harding-Rolls, Campaign Manager, Changing Markets Foundation, and a long-time critic of the Higg Index, said the initiative was designed to mislead people.