How we score
5 signals, each worth 20 points, total out of 100. We score relative to what's actually possible — eco is hard.
- Every GreenSpecs score is the sum of five signals worth 20 points each: claims and disclosure, certifications, packaging lifecycle, ingredient impact, and supply chain.
- A high grade means a third party checked it — self-reported claims score lower by design.
- Certifications are weighted by audit depth, per the cert guide: a farm inspection outranks a company policy review, which outranks a self-designed logo.
1 Claims and Disclosure — worth up to 20 points
Are claims specific and verifiable? "80% recycled content, third-party verified" beats "eco-friendly" every time. Vague language is cheap. Published data is valuable.
2 Certifications — worth up to 20 points
B Corp. USDA Organic. Fair Trade. EPA Safer Choice. These have real audit requirements. A leaf logo the company designed themselves does not count.
3 Packaging Lifecycle — worth up to 20 points
Not just "is it recyclable" — the full picture. A lightweight flexible bag beats a glass jar on total impact. Bulk format, concentrate, and refillable score highest. Glass feels premium but ships heavy.
4 Ingredient Impact — worth up to 20 points
What is actually in it, and how was it made? For food: fewer recognizable ingredients, less processing, organic on high-risk crops. One organic ingredient plus 15 additives does not score well here.
5 Supply Chain — worth up to 20 points
Where was it made and how did it get here? Clean ingredients shipped globally with no offset cap this signal. Short chains, published Scope 3 data, and verified supplier standards score highest.
Where does the supply chain data come from?
The supply chain signal leans on what a brand publishes — and most of a product's real footprint hides in Scope 3, the emissions from farms, ingredients, and shipping that almost never appear on the label. The scope breakdown explains the whole picture in plain English.
How do I read a score fast?
Six shortcuts, thirty seconds: the rules of thumb. Or skip straight to the fun part — scan a label and watch the five signals light up.