How we score alternatives

The Eco Score is a 0–10 rating intended to compare options within the same “swap” (e.g. plastic straws). It’s not a full life-cycle assessment.

Inputs

Durability — expected reuses, repairability.
Materials — recycled/renewable content, toxicity concerns.
End-of-life — recyclability, compostability (where it’s actually accepted).
Performance — whether it works as a practical replacement.
Availability — how easy it is to buy and keep using.

A consistent scoring approach

To keep scoring consistent as you add more swaps, use the same rubric every time. One simple approach is a weighted average of 5 criteria (each 0–10) and store the final score:

Durability (30%)
Materials (25%)
End-of-life (20%)
Performance (15%)
Availability (10%)

For better transparency, store the 5 subscores in the database and compute the final score from them. That lets each alternative show a short “why this score” explanation.

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