How we rate
Real Science + Real Reviews Don’t let our bright, charming exterior fool you.
Behind the scenes, our team of data experts is sifting through a sea of peer-reviewed academic papers, government reports, and third-party certifications to make sure you get accurate insights about the environmental impacts of your favorite products.
We give clear, straightforward explanations about what it all means, where to focus, and why it matters.
We rate products on a scale of 0-10
It’s one of the better options out there.
It’s not the best, but not the worst either.
It’s more likely to do some harm, fall apart, or both.
How we compile our insights
Combining function and scientific fact is how we find the best of the bestFinch is powered by a proprietary algorithm that puts products through the wringer.
Our technology cuts through the greenwash by analyzing company-level and product-level data and accounting for six interconnected environmental footprints and real reviews. Instead of just saying one product is more “sustainable” than another, we simplify the science, category by category. No jargon, no blanket claims or wishy-washy statements.
climate FOOTPRINTThe carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are directly or indirectly released into the atmosphere by a product when it is made or used.
Ex: The company invests in renewable energy
The company is Climate Neutral Certified
The product uses materials with low carbon intensity
water FootprintThe amount of water that is used to make and use a product, and the vulnerability of the watershed that the water is pulled from. This accounts for water scarcity in the area, whether the product contributes to that risk and/or pollutes the local water supply.
Ex:The product uses fewer water-intensive crops
The product is manufactured in a less water-stressed area
The product is UL Water Footprint Certified
HUMAN WELL-BEING FOOTPRINTThe level of toxicity of a product, including if it is detrimental to you and your family's health and/or to the workers who make it. This also accounts for the treatment of workers along the supply chain and their working conditions.
Ex: The product uses Fair Trade Certified materials
The company is B Corp Certified
The product is free from PFAS, SLS, and sulfates
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTThe impact a product has on biodiversity, including the extent to which it harms or benefits local ecosystems and the natural habitats that plants and animals rely on.
Ex:The product is Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certified
The product uses less eco-toxic chemicals
The product is PETA or Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certified
waste footprintThe waste created by a product and its packaging, which is the result of how it is manufactured, how long a product lasts and how likely it is to be reused, recycled, or landfilled. This also accounts for whether that waste is hazardous.
Ex: The product's packaging is made of recyclable materials
The company has a take-back program
The product is Cradle-to-Cradle Certified
raw materials footprintThe materials that are used to make a product, which accounts for how rare they are, whether they are renewable, how difficult they are to source, and how environmentally damaging it is to collect them.
Ex: The product does not contain rare metals
The product is Bluesign Certified
The company sources materials without harming other parts of the environment
REAL REVIEWSThe functionality, quality, and practicality of a product based on aggregated, anonymized reviews scraped from Amazon. What's the point of a product that's better for the planet if it doesn't work well?
The product has 5-star Amazon reviews
The product is more affordable than competitors
If you want to get in the weeds with us, download our rating system cheat sheet, including a full list of our sources.There’s no magical sustainability button...yet.
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