Methodology
How we evaluate products and brands — transparent, source-backed, and free of advertising hype.
- •The ReCircle Eco-Score rates products and brands on a scale from 0 to 10.
- •Scoring is based on five key criteria: Repairability (25%), Certificates (25%), Materials (20%), CO2 Transparency (20%), and Lifespan Signals (10%).
- •All calculations rely strictly on publicly transparent, verifiable data sources.
What is the Eco-Score?
The Eco-Score is our editorial assessment of how sustainable a product or brand is compared to others within the same category. It is not an official certification and does not replace third-party audits — it aggregates publicly available information into a standardized metric.
The demand for verifiable sources is no accident: it stems from my academic work, where unsubstantiated claims simply do not count. We apply the very same standard here.
How is the Eco-Score calculated?
The score is based on five criteria with distinct weights. Each criterion is scored individually from 0 to 10 and then weighted to yield the final score:
| Criterion | Weight | What is measured |
|---|---|---|
| Repairability & Replacement/Update Support | 25 % | Modularity, spare parts availability, software support lifespan (tech) or repair service options (fashion) |
| Independent Certifications | 25 % | Verified third-party seals such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX, TCO Certified, EPEAT, Blue Angel, Fairtrade |
| Material Source & Recyclability | 20 % | Ratio of recycled/renewable materials, end-of-life recyclability |
| CO2 & Manufacturing Transparency | 20 % | Product carbon footprint cycle declarations and LCA data published by the brand |
| Lifespan Signals | 10 % | Warranty duration, declared or expected durability patterns |
How we score each criterion (Rubric)
1. Repairability & Update Support
- 10 Points: Modular product design, spare parts freely available, long software support (7+ years for tech) or robust repair service (fashion)
- 5 Points: Repair is possible but gated (e.g., must be sent to authorized repair centers only)
- 0 Points: No spare parts provided, no standard repair path available
2. Independent Certifications
- 10 Points: Multiple recognized independent third-party seals exist and are verified
- 5 Points: At least one verified certificate exists
- 0 Points: No transparent certs found
3. Material Source & Recyclability
- 10 Points: High percentage of recycled or bio-based input materials, fully recyclable
- 5 Points: Partial recycled components or restricted recycling routes
- 0 Points: Virgin materials used without recyclability audits or data
4. CO2 & Manufacturing Transparency
- 10 Points: Brand publishes detailed, audited life cycle assessment (LCA) data
- 5 Points: Partial data shared (e.g., only shipping offset disclosures)
- 0 Points: No carbon disclosures or manufacturing data provided
5. Lifespan Signals
- 10 Points: Warranty duration is significantly above local legal minimums, high expected lifespan
- 5 Points: Warranty matches legal minimum requirements
- 0 Points: No warranty options or severely restricted terms
What data sources do we use?
Manufacturer specifications, verified seal databases (such as global-standard.org for GOTS or oeko-tex.com), neutral repairability indices (like iFixit), and public research papers published by bodies like ADEME, the Fraunhofer Institute, or consumer rights portals.
How often do we update ratings?
We re-evaluate product ratings at least once every six months, or whenever key technical changes occur (e.g. updated certificates or revised merchant warranties).
Methodological Boundaries
The Eco-Score is an editorial interpretation of public information, not an independent laboratory test or official certification stamp. Where manufacturer documentation is incomplete, we flag the metric as 'non-assessable' rather than generating estimate figures.
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