Methodology

Our goal at LeafScore is to highlight products that are healthy for you and healthy for the planet. We use two complementary rating systems: one for individual products and one for the brands that make them.

How we rate products

Verified vs. Unverified Product Ratings

LeafScore has been rating products based on publicly available information and third-party certifications, combined with independent research and direct brand outreach for years. However, as greenwashing has become more prevalent and consumer trust has eroded, we’ve implemented a verification system to distinguish brands that can document their sustainability claims.

Verified Products (Color Leaves) – Products whose sustainability claims have been independently verified through our brand verification process receive color leaf ratings (1-5 leaves in color). Verification means the brand has provided documentation proving the claims that informed their rating.

Unverified Products (Greyscale Leaves) – Products that haven’t completed verification display their ratings in greyscale. The greyscale rating indicates the product met our criteria based on publicly available information, but the brand hasn’t provided documentation to verify those claims.

This applies to all products in our directory, including those previously awarded color ratings. The sustainability landscape evolves constantly – manufacturing processes change, supply chains shift, new information emerges, and public sentiment around environmental practices develops. To maintain accurate, up-to-date ratings in this dynamic environment, we need brands to centralize their current documentation and practices in one place through our verification process. A product that once displayed a color 5-leaf rating will convert to greyscale if the brand hasn’t completed verification. The underlying assessment that earned the rating remains valid, but greyscale indicates the brand hasn’t provided current verification documentation to confirm those practices are still in place.

How We Rate Brands

Brand Directory & Verification

LeafScore maintains a Brand Directory that evaluates companies holistically – looking at their business practices, supply chain ethics, and overall commitment to sustainability. This is separate from individual product ratings because a brand’s activities extend beyond any single product.

Directory Inclusion
Not every brand makes it into our directory. We only feature brands that show genuine evidence of sustainability leadership through third-party certifications, transparent practices, public commitments, or documented environmental innovations. Being listed means we’ve identified a brand as having legitimate green credentials worth recognizing based on publicly available information.

Verified vs. Unverified Brands

• Verified brands (color leaves) – Have completed our verification process and provided documentation supporting their sustainability practices. All their products display color leaf ratings, and verified brands earn the coveted Leaf Rated badge to display on their LeafScore profile and website.
• Unverified brands (greyscale leaves) – Are in our directory because they’ve demonstrated legitimate sustainability credentials, but haven’t provided verification documentation. Their products display greyscale leaf ratings.

Simply being included in our Brand Directory – even as an unverified listing – represents recognition that a brand has earned credibility in the sustainability space. However, as greenwashing concerns have intensified and regulatory scrutiny has increased, verification provides an additional layer of documented accountability.

Why Product Verification Status Matters

LeafScore owns search visibility for sustainability and eco-friendly reputation queries across hundreds of brands and product categories. When consumers research whether a brand or product is truly sustainable, they often find LeafScore.

In this environment, unverified ratings create risk for both consumers and genuinely sustainable brands. Our verification process allows brands to back up their claims with documentation, protecting their reputation and giving consumers confidence in what they’re buying.

Product verification status is tied to brand verification. When a brand completes our verification process, all their rated products convert from greyscale to color leaves. This ensures consistency and signals to consumers that verified ratings represent documented, independently validated claims across a brand’s entire catalog.

Our Research Process

Our research begins with these source materials:

Safety data from government agencies – the U.S., Canada, and Europe mainly, including RoHS and REACH. We also look at reports from the World Health Organization and similar credible agencies.

Industry reports and documents – annual financial statements, present and past litigation (often a clue to unsafe practices), and evidence of legitimate steps being taken by industry as a whole to reduce environmental impact and address known safety concerns.

Third-party reports – such as from the Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Worldwatch Institute, Fair Trade, Corporate Watch and many others. Where relevant, we also check Consumer Reports for performance data and general information.

As part of the initial research, we also look at how and where products are typically made. We examine the impact that the manufacture of these products has on the local community and environment, the global environment, and the workers who make them.

This is where things like B Corporation status come in, as well as Fair Trade. From there, we look for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to any problematic processes and raw materials used in the typical manufacture of the products. If we find a good alternative, we add that to a checklist for later use when scrutinizing individual products themselves.

Why This Process?

Why all the laborious research? Why not just look for the first product that screams ‘I’m Green!’ and go with that? Well, because this method makes it much easier to spot greenwashing and spurious claims. Instead of getting wrapped up in hype over so-called ‘green’ materials and processes that aren’t actually any greener than what they have replaced, we can focus instead on the companies and products that are legitimately eco-friendly or at least more environmentally sound, healthy, and sustainable than conventional products.

This is also the point in the process where we contact manufacturers. Rather than taking marketing copy at face value, we ask questions about how they source their raw materials and the processes they use, start to finish, in making their products. And, if they’re lacking green certifications that are standard in their industry, we ask why. You can tell a lot by how (or if) companies respond to such queries, and this all goes into our assessment when deciding if a product makes the cut for the LeafScore Directory.

Asking questions also encourages companies to deepen their commitment to environmental responsibility while acknowledging and supporting those already doing the work. Of course, some products meet eco-criteria on our list but may not make it into the LeafScore Directory if we have concerns about a company’s customer service records or commitment to their wider community and the environment. After all, if a product looks good but you can’t get help fixing it if something goes wrong, chances are you’ll throw it away, which isn’t very eco-friendly.

A Note on Products We Choose

In some categories, pickings are slim for eco-friendly housewares. This might mean that some of the eco-friendly products listed are made by companies who don’t have an overall commitment to environmental stewardship or sustainability. Where relevant, we include information like this in a product review, so you can make a more informed choice.

Our hope is that by highlighting and promoting the ‘greener’ versions of, say, a corporate giant’s inventory, this will create an economic incentive for them to transition their whole inventory to sustainable goods. And, on the flip side, by putting the ‘little guy’ – the eco-friendly start-up you’ve never heard of – right up against larger companies and well-known brands, you can make a more robust comparison and choose the right product for you, your family, your budget, and your comfort level.

Brand Verification Framework

To earn verified status in our Brand Directory and maintain color leaf ratings for their products, brands must provide documentation supporting the sustainability claims that informed their ratings.

Verification Requirements

Verified brands must provide documentation in the following areas:

Transparency & Documentation
Brands provide information about materials, manufacturing processes, and supply chain relevant to the products rated by LeafScore. This may include ingredient lists, material sourcing documentation, third-party certifications, and facility information. The specific documentation required depends on the claims made and the product category.

Business Practice Standards
Brands must demonstrate honest marketing practices and regulatory compliance appropriate to their industry. We do not verify brands engaged in documented greenwashing, those with patterns of misleading environmental claims, or those failing to meet basic consumer safety standards.

Environmental Responsibility

Brands demonstrate commitment through documentation in at least two of the following areas:

Recycled or Low-Impact Materials – Documentation of post-consumer recycled content, sustainably sourced materials, or alternatives to virgin resources. This may include supplier certifications, material sourcing records, or third-party verification of material claims.

Low-Waste or Plastic-Reduced Packaging – Evidence of packaging waste reduction through plastic-free materials, compostable alternatives, refillable systems, or reduced packaging design. Documentation may include packaging specifications, waste reduction metrics, or third-party certifications.

Carbon Accountability – Published greenhouse gas emissions data, carbon offset programs, or science-based reduction targets. We recognize third-party verification of climate commitments and look for evidence of year-over-year progress where available.

Product Durability & Circular Design – Evidence of design for longevity, repair programs, modular product design, or take-back and recycling initiatives. Documentation may include warranty programs, repair service availability, or end-of-life product management systems.

Sustainable Supply Chain – Documentation of relationships with certified sustainable suppliers, participation in sustainability programs, or investment in supplier capacity-building. This may include supplier certifications, audit results, or program participation records.

Ethical & Social Standards

Brands demonstrate commitment through documentation in at least two of the following areas:

Independent Factory Audits – Evidence of third-party audits through recognized programs such as BSCI, SMETA, WRAP, SA8000, Fair Trade certification, B Corp certification, or equivalent standards. Brands provide audit results or certification documentation.

Ethical Sourcing Standards – Published supplier code of conduct, supplier agreement documentation, or evidence of ethical sourcing requirements. We look for documented standards and implementation evidence.

Fair Labor Standards – Documentation of wage policies, labor standards, or commitment to fair labor practices. This may include wage transparency reports, labor certifications, or documented labor policies throughout the supply chain.

Worker Safety Standards – Evidence of compliance with labor standards, workplace safety programs, or worker protection measures. Documentation may include safety certifications, audit results, or documented safety policies and programs.

The Verification Process

Application – Brands submit documentation demonstrating how they meet verification criteria. This includes existing third-party certifications, relevant policies and programs, supply chain information, and evidence supporting the sustainability claims in their LeafScore ratings.

Review – Our team reviews submitted documentation against the claims that informed the brand’s product ratings. We assess whether the documentation adequately supports those claims and may request additional information or clarification.

Verification Decision – Approved brands receive verified status. Their brand page displays a verified badge and all their product ratings display in color across our platform. Verification signals to consumers that the brand has provided documentation supporting their sustainability claims.

Maintaining Verification – Brands maintain verification through periodic documentation updates. We expect brands to notify us of significant changes to their practices or supply chain. We reserve the right to request updated documentation or remove verification if standards are no longer met or if misleading claims come to light.

What Greyscale Means

For Brands: Brands with greyscale badges are in our directory because they’ve demonstrated legitimate sustainability credentials based on publicly available information. However, they haven’t provided verification documentation. Greyscale doesn’t mean a brand isn’t sustainable – it means they haven’t completed our verification process.

For Products: Products displaying greyscale leaf ratings (1-5 greyscale leaves) have been assessed based on publicly available information but the brand hasn’t provided verification documentation. This includes products that may have previously displayed color ratings. The greyscale rating reflects the same quality assessment – greyscale simply indicates unverified status.

Why Verification Matters

The sustainability marketplace has evolved significantly. With increased regulatory scrutiny around environmental claims and growing consumer skepticism about greenwashing, documented proof of sustainability practices has become essential.

LeafScore has provided ratings and search visibility for sustainable brands for years. Verification is the next step – allowing brands to back up their claims with documentation, protect their reputation, and give consumers confidence in the ratings they see.

Verification protects both consumers seeking trustworthy information and genuinely sustainable brands working to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Questions about verification? Contact us at ratings [at] leafscore.com to learn more about the verification process.