Sustainability Rating ©
Carbon Footprint Offset
In order to earn a point in this category, the supplier must meet the listed criteria.
(a) Entirely offset carbon footprint and provide a seal of approval from a reputable, independent organization or show substantial evidence that offset is unquestionable. Examples of reputable approval seals include but are not limited to:
- (1) Gold Standard
- (2) Voluntary Carbon Standard
- (3) Plan Vivo
Sourcing Raw Materials
In order to earn a point in this category, the supplier must meet one or more of the listed criteria.
FOR WOOD AND PAPER BASED PRODUCTS
(a) Materials are sourced from companies that are certified in responsible forestry practices. Forest Stewardship Council is an example of a reputable certification.
(b) Tree free products, including but not limited to hemp, bamboo, sugarcane grass byproducts, or palm leaf are used.
(c) Made entirely from recycled materials.
METALS, GLASS OR OTHER MINED MATERIALS
(a) It is made with >50% recycled material
(b) Materials are sourced from a company that meets the 3 requirements outlined by the National Resources Conservation Service for land restoration:
- (1) Prevent negative impacts to soil, water, and air resources in and near mined areas
- (2) Restore the quality of soils to their pre-mining level
- (3) Maintain or improve landscape and functional quality
FOR NATURAL FABRIC OR PRODUCTS WITH PLANT BASED INGREDIENTS
(a) Excluding all-natural, proven safe, raw earth materials, ALL ingredients / materials must come from certified organic agricultural operations.
Manufacturing
In order to earn a point in this category, the supplier must meet one or more of the listed criteria.
(a) Product is handmade or hand-blended in small batches.
(b) >50% of power needed for manufacturing facilities is provided through clean energy (solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc.).
Composition Of Products
In order to earn a point in this category, the supplier must meet one or more of the listed criteria.
(a) Certified compostable.
(b) Easily recyclable through most city and residential recycling programs.
(c) Consists of 100% plant-based ingredients (natural fabric, beeswax, silk, and other proven safe, ethically derived, natural ingredients are acceptable).
Product Packaging
In order to earn a point in this category, no plastic, Styrofoam or other non-environmentally preferable materials can be used. In addition, a company must meet one or more of the below listed criteria:
(a) Labels, stickers, or seals used are certified compostable.
(b) Tape used is either certified compostable or made entirely from renewable, plant-based materials (cellulose and non-reinforced paper-based tapes are acceptable).
(c) Paper-based packaging is made entirely from recycled materials or it comes from a source that is certified in responsible forestry.
(d) Metals, glass or other mined materials are made from >50% recycled material or they are sourced from a company that meets the 3 requirements outlined by the National Resources Conservation Service for land restoration:
- (1) Prevent negative impacts to soil, water, and air resources in and near mined areas
- (2) Restore the quality of soils to their pre-mining level
- (3) Maintain or improve landscape and functional quality
Effective Recycling Program
In order to earn a point in this category, the supplier must meet all the listed criteria (or equivalent measures)
(a) Training program new hires are exposed to during orientation that highlights the importance of recycling and gives an overview of basic program guidelines.
(b) The necessary infrastructure to make such a program a success.
(c) Routine audits to ensure compliance and a strategy for corrective action when non-compliance exists.
(d) Statistical analysis (adequately measuring the recycling program’s effectiveness).
*This measure spans all areas where offices and production facilities exist
Shipping Materials Used
In order to earn a point in this category, no plastic, Styrofoam or other non-environmentally preferable materials can be used. In addition, a company must meet one or more of the below listed criteria:
(a) Labels, stickers, or seals used are certified compostable.
(b) Tape used is either certified compostable or made entirely from renewable, plant-based materials (cellulose and non-reinforced paper-based tapes are acceptable).
(c) Paper-based materials are made entirely from recycled content.
(d) Paper-based materials come from sources that are certified in responsible forestry.
End of Product Life Disposal
In order to earn a point in this category a company/product must meet one or more of the below listed criteria:
(a) For materials that are more difficult to recycle, like silicone seals for water bottles for example, suppliers must simply be willing to accept any materials that may be a byproduct at the end of the products lifecycle, and they must effectively communicate this information to consumers.
(b) At the end of the product’s life, the product or the remaining packaging must be easily recyclable through most city or residential recycling programs.
(c) Certified compostable.
(d) Consists of 100% plant-based ingredients (natural fabric, beeswax, silk, and other proven safe, ethically derived, natural ingredients are acceptable).
(e) Nothing remains of the product after being used.
USE THIS RATING TO SPEED PROGRESSION TOWARDS SUSTAINaBLE WORLD
Alongside sustainable qualities, product quality is also highly valued and equally as important to Company Eco’s standards. Each product on the website is required to maintain an average customer rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars. If a product does not meet this requirement, it is removed from our website regardless of its environmental qualities. This requirement has the potential to make reviews regarding the quality of a product a less significant or even secondary consideration, and it creates an opportunity to redirect the customer's focus to a different type of product rating, a sustainability rating©.
When it comes to comparing two similar products from different companies, there are often similarities between pricing, quality, customer reviews etc. When faced with these decisions, Company Eco’s Sustainability Rating© is designed to be the deciding factor - allowing consumers to compare the environmental qualities of each product with full transparency.
Company Eco envisions consumer purchasing choices being shaped by the Sustainability Rating© with hopes that this will place pressure on organizations to adopt sustainability initiatives in order to remain competitive. This concept, once scaled, has the potential to rapidly advance sustainable consumption and production or SDG #12.
Our product rating requirement (each product must maintain a minimal rating of 4 out of 5 stars) has the potential to make reviews regarding the quality of a product a less significant or even secondary consideration. This dynamic creates an opportunity to redirect the customer's focus to a different type of product rating, a sustainability rating.
When shoppers are looking at variations of a particular product, that come from different companies, and in cases where each option appears to offer a similar amount of value (in terms of customer reviews, pricing, etc.), the sustainability rating was designed to be the deciding factor.
When customer reviews regarding quality become a less significant consideration, and consumers purchasing choices are subtly being shaped by a sustainability rating, this can place a considerable amount of pressure on organizations – forcing them to adopt sustainability initiatives in order to remain competitive and thus creating a healthier, more sustainable world for all.