Manufacturing
Made in USA is optimal. Made in China is suboptimal due to overconcentration of manufacturing capacity. Focus on production in democracies with oversight.
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Score 1 - 3
Made in China with varying degrees (including zero) of foreign entity management. -
Score 3 - 5
Made In China but with foreign design. Made overseas without western supervision, but not China. -
Score 5 - 7
Made overseas with western supervision but not made in China. -
Score 8 - 10
Made in USA or Made in western style democracies. Assembled in USA on lower end of this scale.
Distribution
Related to manufacturing. China is suboptimal. Assembled or Made in USA is optimal. Goal would be manufacturing close to where the product is primarily purchased and where the product is primarily marketed to.
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Score 1 - 3
Made in China with varying degrees (including zero) of foreign entity management. -
Score 3 - 5
Made In China but with foreign design. Made overseas without western supervision, but not China. -
Score 5 - 7
Made overseas with western supervision but not made in China. -
Score 8 - 10
Made in USA or Made in western style democracies. Assembled in USA on lower end of this scale.
Cost
Goal is to cost no more than 3X the conventional/traditional plastic option.
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Score 1 - 3
5X or more than traditional/conventional plastic option. -
Score 3 - 5
Costs between greater than 2X and 4X the cost of plastic or traditional/conventional not environmentally friendly option. -
Score 5 - 7
No more than 2X the cost of plastic or traditional/conventional not environmentally friendly option. -
Score 8 - 10
Cost is less than plastic or traditional/conventional not environmentally friendly option.
Packaging
Packaging is mostly paperboard, cardboard, paper, and other recyclable materials. Limited use of plastic to interior packaging.
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Score 1 - 3
Packed in blister packaging with significant plastic content and significant plastic wrapping. Includes any notable amount of styrofoam. -
Score 3 - 5
Packed with significant amounts of plastic in terms of inner packaging even if outer packaging may be paperboard of cardboard. Often includes plastic inserts for product stabilization. -
Score 5 - 7
Mostly paperboard with some plastic packaging such as a plastic bag to hold product or plugs/cords. Exterior packaging is paperboard or cardboard. -
Score 8 - 10
Packaging is either minimal or mostly all paperboard, cardboard, with paper stuffing for product stabilization.
Effectiveness
Product is effective at doing it task to a degree comparable to more traditional options. Product may represent older technology that no longer performs in the same range as newer options.
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Score 1 - 3
Is sustainable but significantly less convenient or cost effective as the traditional item being replaced. -
Score 3 - 5
Is slightly less effective than the traditional item that the more sustainable item is replacing. -
Score 5 - 7
Is as effective as the traditional item that the more sustainable item is replacing. -
Score 8 - 10
Is significantly more effective than the plastic or traditional/conventional not environmentally friendly option.
Lifespan
Product has a long lifespan especially compared to conventional plastic alternatives or other consumables.
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Score 1 - 3
Shorter lifespan than conventional alternative or consumable product. -
Score 3 - 5
About the same lifespan of conventional alternative or consumable product. -
Score 5 - 7
Lifetime status or long life compared to a conventional alternative or consumable product. -
Score 8 - 10
Heirloom status or significantly long life compared to conventional alternatives for consumable product.
Fun
Is the product a joy to use or do hassle factors and inconvenience relative to traditional alternatives make the product unattractive.
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Score 1 - 3
Is difficult to use and results in no to limited use. -
Score 3 - 5
Is OK to use and results in more modest use than desired. -
Score 5 - 7
Is as easy to use as a traditional alternative. -
Score 8 - 10
Is a joy to use and leads to increased usage relative to traditional alternatives.
Relevance
Some tools have been adapted to new modern uses. Sometimes these adaptations are better than others.
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Score 1 - 3
Is not built for the same intended purpose as the traditional item it is replacing, but can perform the task to some limited degree. -
Score 3 - 5
Is not built for the same intended purpose as the traditional item it is replacing, but can perform the task to a notable degree. -
Score 5 - 7
Is purpose built for the intended purpose. -
Score 8 - 10
Is purpose built for the intended purpose but can be used more broadly for other purposes making the product broadly useful.
Disposal
Focus is on products that do not release toxins/plastics into the environment when they are consumed or at end of life.
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Score 1 - 3
Is mostly plastic or contains synthetic substances that are released with consumption. -
Score 3 - 5
Is composite in nature and has plastics that may be released even if the majority of the product is recyclable or made of materials that do not cause harm. Examples would include an appliance that is mostly steel but has significant amounts of plastic tubing and other elements. Silicone is acceptable but on the lower end of the range. -
Score 5 - 7
Is composed mostly of infinitely recyclable materials such as glass, aluminum, and ferrous metals. If consumable, then contains very limited synthetic ingredients. But also includes materials that have no net harm even if they are not recyclable such as wood, ceramic, waxed paper, animal products, specialty glass such as window glazing and pyrex, and silicone. -
Score 8 - 10
Is composed of entirely infinitely recyclable materials such as glass, aluminum, and ferrous metals. If consumable, then contains very limited synthetic ingredients.
Recycling
Focus is on products that are infinitely recyclable. There products mostly contain cycleable papers, aluminum, ferrous metals, and non specialty glass. Ceramics, wood, and to a lesser extent silicone is downgraded but more acceptable than mostly plastic items.
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Score 1 - 3
Is mostly plastic or made of components that are not infinitely recyclable. If consumable, then contains a notable amount of synthetic ingredients. -
Score 3 - 5
Is made of some infinitely recyclable materials or materials that have no net harm even if they are not recyclable such as wood, ceramic, waxed paper, animal products, specialty glass such as window glazing and pyrex, and silicone. If consumable, then contains some synthetic ingredients. -
Score 5 - 7
Is composed mostly of infinitely recyclable materials such as glass, aluminum, and ferrous metals. If consumable, then contains very limited synthetic ingredients. -
Score 8 - 10
Is composed of entirely infinitely recyclable materials such as glass, aluminum, and ferrous metals. If consumable, then contains very limited synthetic ingredients.