Scoring Methodology
The Eaternity Score is built on rigorous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, international standards compliance, and the world's most comprehensive food environmental database.
The Eaternity Score uses the same LCA methodology as all EOS products. For detailed documentation on life cycle assessment, system boundaries, and standards compliance, see the Core Methodology Overview.
Score-Specific Features
The Eaternity Score methodology combines:
- Life Cycle Assessment — Cradle-to-grave environmental impact evaluation
- Multi-Indicator Analysis — Climate, water, animal welfare, rainforest ratings
- Cross-Category Normalization — Fair comparison across all food types
- Database-Driven Calculations — 55,000+ ingredients with scientific backing
- Standards Compliance — ISO 14040/14044, PAS 2050, PEF alignment
Environmental Indicators
The Eaternity Score evaluates food across four environmental dimensions:
| Indicator | Metric | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | kg CO₂eq/serving | Greenhouse gas emissions across the lifecycle |
| Water | L scarcity footprint | Water consumption weighted by regional scarcity |
| Animal Welfare | A-E rating | Treatment standards in production |
| Rainforest | A-E rating | Deforestation risk assessment |
Consumer Star Rating
For consumer communication, the A-E ratings are displayed as a simple star system:
| Stars | Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐ | A | Excellent environmental performance |
| ⭐⭐ | B | Good environmental performance |
| ⭐ | C, D, or E | Standard to below-average performance |
This enables quick, intuitive understanding at point of purchase while maintaining full scientific rigor in the underlying assessment.
For comprehensive information on each environmental indicator, including calculation methods, benchmarks, and scientific foundations, see the Ratings Documentation.
- Climate Score — CO₂ equivalent calculations
- Water Footprint — Water scarcity methodology
- Animal Welfare — Welfare assessment criteria
- Rainforest Rating — Deforestation risk factors
Methodology Validation
Peer Review
The Eaternity methodology has been:
- Academically reviewed: Published in peer-reviewed journals
- Industry validated: Applied to 100,000+ product assessments
- Stakeholder consulted: Input from food industry, NGOs, researchers
- Continuously improved: Annual methodology updates based on latest science
Scientific Publications
Key publications validating our approach:
- Braschkat et al. (2016): "Eaternity Database methodology"
- Eaternity (2020): "Multi-indicator food sustainability assessment"
- Various case studies in Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of LCA
Independent Verification
Available upon request:
- Third-party critical review (ISO 14040 compliant)
- External LCA expert validation
- Regulatory compliance certification
Methodology Updates
Our methodology evolves with science:
Annual Updates:
- Database expansion (new ingredients, improved data)
- Scientific literature integration
- Methodology refinement based on new research
- Stakeholder feedback incorporation
Version Control:
- Each score includes methodology version
- Changes documented in changelog
- Backward compatibility for comparisons
- Re-assessment recommendations when significant changes occur
Current Version: Eaternity Score Methodology v4.2 (2024)
Related Documentation
- Core Methodology — LCA methodology, system boundaries, standards
- Data Sources — Eaternity Database and external sources
- Ratings Overview — Environmental indicator documentation
Questions?
For methodology inquiries:
- Technical questions: science@eaternity.org
- Academic collaboration: research@eaternity.org