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.