Hållbarhet

Komplex hållbarhetsinformation förenklad till ett nummer.

But what does this number say?

Every product visible on Archr has a coloured circle next to it with an overall score from 1-10 in it. This number indicates how sustainable a product is in relation to other products in the same category, such as phones. The score is based on several aspects of sustainability such as CO2 emissions and circularity, where 1 is the worst possible score and 10 is the best possible score. An easy way to start making good choices is to look out after products with green dots!

Products with a score between 1-3.9 are the least sustainable choices, and receive the color red to make them easily distinguishable.
Products with a score between 4-6.9 are in the medium section, and receive the color orange.
Products with a score between 7-10 are the most sustainable choices, and receive the color green.

Moreover, we present the specific aspect scores of the product, such as circularity scores, which also ranges between 1-10. The overall scores are then calculated as arithmetic means of the aspect scores.

Vilka aspekter av hållbarhet ingår i poängen?

Archr’s goal is that the score should represent a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, including circularity, CO2 footprint, biodiversity impact and social conditions. We believe that sustainability is interconnected and therefore we think it’s important to focus on the whole picture and not only one single aspect. For example, a product can have a very low carbon footprint but break after one day of usage and thus perform badly in terms of circularity. In the end, that is not really a sustainable product then.

Archr’s sustainability score is in constant development and right now the overall sustainability scores are based on circularity and CO2 emissions of the products. As global understanding of sustainable consumption develops, Archr will continue to update and improve our metrics to provide users with the most up to date information delivered in an easily understandable format. We will continue to work with environmental sustainability and look forward to introducing social sustainability aspects in the near future.

Vad är cirkularitet och varför är det viktigt?

Circular business models and products have huge potential to decrease our global use of resources, both in terms of material and energy. According to Inger Andersen, UN Environment Programme Executive Director, “Circularity and sustainable consumption and production are essential to delivering on every multilateral agreement, from the Sustainable Development Goals, to the Paris Agreement to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.”

Circularity is about eliminating waste and transitioning from linear processes where resources are taken from earth to produce products that later end up as trash. Instead, when products are designed to be circular, less waste is generated and our earth can keep more of its finite resources such as forest, metals and uranium. An example of a component that makes a product more circular is that it is produced with renewable material and energy..

If you want to know more about circularity, you can read more about it here: What is a circular economy? | Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Hur konstrueras poängen och varifrån kommer hållbarhetsdatan?

Our internal researchers in environmental science are the ones constructing the scores and they base Archr’s scoring method on scientific papers and acknowledged directives, such as the EU waste framework directive when it comes to circularity.

To score a product from the perspective of circularity, we gather information to answer questions on diverse areas of production, from organizational information on distribution and logistics, to material composition information including biodegradability, recyclability and recycled content and even ecotoxicity concerns like inclusion of PFAS or bromated flame retardants.

The data comes from open sources such as databases, sustainability reports, companies websites and EPD’s. However, some information we receive directly from companies through close collaboration. This is for example data coming from internal documentations including logistical information, end of life handling information, and non-regulated product specific content information.

Kan vi lita på informationen?

Regarding any organic or recycled fabrics mentioned by the companies, they need to follow recognized content guidelines, like for example, the 25% recycled content required to label a material as recycled. Certain other certifications encountered in market analyses include water conscious materials, which follow strict guidelines on water consumption during growing and manufacturing.

Archr works hard to ensure information obtained to construct scores is free from greenwashing typical of modern sustainability messaging by asking clear, industry specific questions. All information is, however, subject to the scrutiny and trustworthiness of the organizations producing products and the government organizations regulating them. CO2e data is generally reported from published life cycle assessments. This methodology is widely employed but suffers from a limited global regulatory system and defined practice, leaving it vulnerable to uncertainties.

What if data points are lacking?

Our ambition is to start rating products for companies we collaborate with and have as partners. However, if we don’t have a collaboration and/or data points are missing, Archr takes conservative measures and gives the lowest points for questions concerned. In this way, we create an incentive for companies to make all their sustainability information public, and thereby we are a force for pushing for transparency when it comes to sustainability reporting.