Rules of thumb
How to read GreenSpecs in 30 seconds.
- A GreenSpecs grade rewards third-party verification — a claim with an auditor behind it always outranks the same claim without one.
- 70-90% of a typical product's emissions sit in Scope 3 — ingredients, farming, transport — per the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's supply chain scope.
- "Natural" and "sustainable" carry no legal definition on a label, per the FTC Green Guides.
01 Grade = verified, not claimed
A high grade means a third party checked it — not just the brand saying so. Self-reported claims score lower by design.
02 Scope 3 is the real footprint
70–90% of a product's emissions come from ingredients, farming, and transport — not the factory. If Scope 3 isn't disclosed, the company is showing you the easy part.
03 "Natural" and "sustainable" mean nothing
These words have no legal definition and no enforcement. Look for named certifications — Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, B Corp — with a third-party auditor attached.
04 Social silence is a red flag
If the Social phrase says nothing was disclosed, that is not neutral — it means the brand has not chosen to be accountable about who makes this or what they are paid.
05 The Standout line is rare on purpose
Most products get no Standout. When you see one, it means something specific and named was found — not just a marketing line GreenSpecs agreed with.
06 Compare before you buy
Use the Compare button to scan two products side by side. The contrast sentence shows you exactly what is different — not just two scores sitting next to each other.
Want the full machinery behind the shortcuts? Read how we score and the cert guide — or just scan something and watch the rules work.