What counts as a good ethics score?
Short answer
On our 0–100 scale, 70 and above clears the bar on certifications and sourcing, 85 and above is best-in-class, and anything under 50 has significant gaps or missing data. Scores are comparable within a category; cross-category comparison is less meaningful because impact baselines differ.
The detail
The score is a weighted composite: third-party certifications (30%), sourcing and supply-chain transparency (20%), ingredient and material safety (20%), packaging (15%) and brand-level practices (15%). Missing data lowers the score rather than being assumed favourable.
A low score is not always an accusation. Small makers with genuinely good practices often lack the budget for certification, which caps their ceiling. That is why we publish the pillar breakdown on every product page instead of only the number.
At a glance
- 85–100
- Best-in-class: multiple audited certifications and published supply-chain data.
- 70–84
- Solid: verifiable claims with one or two weaker dimensions.
- 50–69
- Mixed: partial evidence, thin packaging or brand-level record.
- Under 50
- Significant gaps, unverified claims or documented controversies.
Go deeper
More on shopping
Other common questions
Why this answer is more complicated than a yes or no
“What counts as a good ethics score?” is usually answered with a single word online, and the single word is usually wrong. Most sustainability questions depend on scope (which product, which market, which year), on the standard being applied, and on how long the item will actually be used.
Our approach is to answer the question directly first, then show the conditions under which the answer changes. That way a quick reader gets a usable answer and a careful reader gets the reasoning, including the cases where the popular answer breaks down.
Where evidence is genuinely contested, we say so rather than picking the more shareable side. Claims we cannot trace to a named standard, a regulator or published testing are labelled unverified.
What changes the answer
| Variable | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Product lifespan | A durable item amortises its footprint over years | Look for repairability and warranty length |
| Certification scope | Coverage is per line, not per brand | Ask for the certificate number |
| Market and law | Requirements differ by country | Check the claim for the market you buy in |
| Use pattern | Washing, heating and daily contact dominate impact | Judge against how you'll actually use it |
Turning the answer into a purchase
- Fix your budget firstCertified options exist at most price points; filter by both.
- Pick one certification to trustDepth beats collecting logos.
- Check the exclusionsWhat a claim leaves out is more informative than what it covers.
- Plan the end of lifeRepair, refill or recycling routes decide the real footprint.