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4-Step Scoring Process

The Eaternity Score assessment follows a structured, transparent process that ensures accuracy, compliance, and actionable insights. Here's exactly what happens from initial contact to final score delivery.

Process Overview​

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Total Timeline: 6 weeks from complete data submission to final report delivery

Step 1: Send Data​

Duration: 1-2 weeks (client-dependent)

The foundation of an accurate environmental assessment is comprehensive product data. This phase involves structured data collection about your product's ingredients, production, and supply chain.

Initial Consultation​

When you contact Eaternity, our team will:

  1. Assess Product Complexity — Number of ingredients, processing steps, supply chain complexity
  2. Determine Data Availability — What information you already have vs. what needs to be gathered
  3. Customize Questionnaire — Tailor data collection forms to your specific product type
  4. Set Timeline — Establish realistic deadlines based on your data availability

Data Collection Forms​

You'll receive structured questionnaires covering:

Product Specification​

  • Product name and description
  • Net weight and serving size
  • Product category (beverage, snack, ready meal, etc.)
  • Target market and distribution channels

Ingredient Information​

  • Complete ingredient list with quantities
  • Ingredient origins (country/region)
  • Production methods (organic, conventional, greenhouse, etc.)
  • Certifications (Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, organic labels, etc.)

Processing Details​

  • Manufacturing processes (mixing, baking, fermentation, drying, etc.)
  • Energy sources (electricity, natural gas, renewable energy)
  • Water usage in production
  • Waste generation and management

Packaging Specifications​

  • Primary packaging materials and weights
  • Secondary packaging (boxes, wrapping)
  • Packaging disposal method (recyclable, compostable, landfill)

Transportation​

  • Ingredient transport routes and modes
  • Finished product distribution
  • Storage requirements (refrigerated, frozen, ambient)

Data Quality Guidelines​

For the most accurate assessment:

  • Be Specific — "Tomatoes from Spain" is better than "Tomatoes from Europe"
  • Provide Certifications — Organic, Fairtrade, and welfare certifications improve accuracy
  • Include Seasonal Variations — If ingredient origins change seasonally, provide details
  • Document Processing — Energy consumption data improves precision
  • Specify Transport — Actual routes are better than assumptions

What If Data Is Missing?​

Don't worry if you don't have every piece of information. Our process handles data gaps:

  • Conservative Assumptions — We make scientifically defensible estimates that don't unfairly favor your product
  • Industry Averages — Use representative data from scientific databases
  • Documentation — All assumptions are clearly documented in your report
  • Transparency — You'll know exactly where estimates were used

Data Submission​

Once you've completed the questionnaires:

  1. Submit Forms — Upload via secure portal or email
  2. Initial Review — Our team checks for completeness within 48 hours
  3. Clarification — We'll contact you if any information needs clarification
  4. Data Lock — Final data confirmation before analysis begins
Best Practice

Assign a dedicated team member who has access to procurement, production, and supply chain data. This speeds up the data collection process significantly.

Step 2: Calculate​

Duration: 3-4 weeks

With your complete data in hand, our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) specialists conduct comprehensive environmental impact calculations.

Ingredient Linking​

Each ingredient is matched to our comprehensive database:

Database Matching Process​

  1. Base Product Identification — Map ingredient to FoodEx2 classification
  2. Origin Assignment — Link to country/region-specific environmental data
  3. Production Method — Identify conventional, organic, greenhouse, etc.
  4. Certification Recognition — Apply environmental benefits of certifications
  5. Quality Check — Verify accurate ingredient representation

Example: Tomatoes​

  • Generic tomato → Specific variety (cherry, roma, beefsteak)
  • Origin → Spain (field-grown) vs. Netherlands (heated greenhouse)
  • Method → Organic certification reduces synthetic fertilizer impact
  • Season → Grown in-season vs. out-of-season with heating

Impact Calculation​

The calculation engine processes:

Agricultural Production​

  • Fertilizer manufacturing and application
  • Pesticide production and use
  • On-farm energy consumption
  • Methane from livestock digestion
  • Nitrous oxide from soil management
  • Land use change (including deforestation)

Processing Impact​

  • Energy for manufacturing (electricity, natural gas)
  • Water consumption and treatment
  • Refrigeration and climate control
  • Waste treatment and disposal
  • Co-product allocation

Packaging Impact​

  • Raw material extraction and production
  • Manufacturing energy
  • End-of-life disposal (recycling, landfill, incineration)

Transportation​

  • Ingredient transport to manufacturer
  • Finished product distribution
  • Mode-specific emissions (truck, ship, air, rail)
  • Refrigerated vs. ambient transport

Storage and Retail​

  • Refrigeration energy (if applicable)
  • Retail display energy
  • Shelf life considerations

Consumer Phase​

  • Home storage (refrigeration)
  • Preparation energy (cooking, heating)
  • Food waste at household level

Multi-Impact Assessment​

The system calculates four environmental indicators:

  1. Climate Impact

    • Total kg CO₂ equivalent
    • Breakdown by lifecycle stage
    • Contribution analysis by ingredient

  2. Water Scarcity Impact

    • Volume weighted by regional water stress
    • Blue water (irrigation) vs. green water (rainfall)
    • Water pollution from agricultural runoff

  3. Animal Welfare Score

    • Housing and living conditions
    • Feed quality and access to outdoors
    • Health management practices
    • Certification recognition (organic, welfare labels)

  4. Rainforest Conservation

    • Deforestation risk by ingredient
    • Biodiversity impact
    • Land use change emissions
    • Certification effectiveness (RSPO, Rainforest Alliance)

Quality Assurance​

During calculation, our team:

  • Peer Review — Second analyst reviews all linkages and calculations
  • Outlier Detection — Flag unusual results for investigation
  • Sensitivity Analysis — Test impact of key assumptions
  • Uncertainty Assessment — Quantify confidence in results
  • Benchmark Comparison — Validate against similar products

Database Comparison​

Your product is compared against:

  • 100,000+ Scored Products — Comprehensive benchmark database
  • Category-Specific Comparison — How you rank within your product type
  • Environmental Leader Identification — What the best-in-class looks like
  • Improvement Opportunities — Where to focus optimization efforts

Step 3: Receive Scores​

Duration: 1 week

Results are delivered in a comprehensive package designed for both internal analysis and external communication.

Score Report Package​

Executive Summary​

  • Star Rating — Overall environmental performance (⭐⭐⭐ = A, ⭐⭐ = B, ⭐ = C-E)
  • Key Findings — Main drivers of environmental impact
  • Comparison — Position vs. category average
  • Quick Wins — Immediate improvement opportunities

Detailed Environmental Scores​

Climate Score

  • Total kg CO₂eq per serving
  • Breakdown by lifecycle stage (agriculture, processing, packaging, transport)
  • Contribution analysis by ingredient
  • Comparison to category average

Water Score

  • Liters of water scarcity impact
  • Regional water stress consideration
  • Agricultural vs. processing water use

Animal Welfare Score

  • A-E rating based on production standards
  • Certification recognition
  • Improvement recommendations

Rainforest Score

  • Deforestation risk assessment
  • Biodiversity impact
  • High-risk ingredient identification

Lifecycle Impact Breakdown​

Visual charts showing:

  • Impact by lifecycle stage (pie chart)
  • Impact by ingredient (bar chart)
  • Comparison to category average (benchmark chart)
  • Historical comparison (if re-assessment)

Improvement Scenarios​

The report includes modeling of potential improvements:

Ingredient Substitution

  • Example: "Replacing palm oil with sunflower oil reduces climate impact by 15%"
  • Quantified impact reduction
  • Feasibility considerations

Sourcing Changes

  • Example: "Sourcing cocoa with Rainforest Alliance certification improves rainforest score"
  • Available certified suppliers
  • Cost-benefit analysis

Process Optimization

  • Example: "Switching to renewable energy reduces climate impact by 8%"
  • Investment requirements
  • Payback period

Packaging Alternatives

  • Example: "Using recycled PET reduces packaging impact by 30%"
  • Material availability
  • Cost implications

Marketing Materials​

Ready-to-use assets for communication:

Score Badge​

  • High-resolution PNG and SVG files
  • Multiple sizes (packaging, web, print)
  • Color and monochrome versions
  • Usage guidelines and minimum sizes

Product Claims​

  • Pre-approved environmental claims
  • Regulatory compliance language
  • Comparison statements (vs. category average)
  • Social media copy templates

Consumer Messaging​

  • Plain language explanations
  • "What does this mean?" interpretations
  • Lifestyle context (e.g., "equivalent to X miles driven")
  • FAQ responses

Technical Documentation​

Full transparency for regulatory compliance:

LCA Methodology Statement​

  • System boundaries definition
  • Functional unit selection
  • Allocation methods
  • Impact assessment methodology
  • Data quality requirements

Data Sources​

  • Database references (Eaternity Database, Ecoinvent, etc.)
  • Scientific literature citations
  • Assumptions documentation
  • Data quality indicators

Compliance Certificates​

  • ISO 14040/14044 compliance statement
  • PAS 2050 alignment
  • Empowering Consumers Directive substantiation
  • CSRD reporting support

Step 4: Share Scores​

Ongoing

Once you have your scores, it's time to communicate your environmental performance to stakeholders.

Packaging Integration​

On-Pack Display​

  • Front of Pack — Score badge with star rating (⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐/⭐ corresponding to A/B/C-E)
  • Back of Pack — Detailed environmental indicators
  • QR Code — Link to full environmental story
  • Comparative Claims — "30% lower climate impact than category average"

Design Guidelines​

  • Minimum size requirements for legibility
  • Color specifications (CMYK, Pantone)
  • Placement recommendations
  • Regulatory compliance checklist

Digital Communication​

Website Integration​

  • Product page environmental data
  • Interactive comparison tools
  • Downloadable LCA summary
  • Sustainability story narrative

E-Commerce Platforms​

  • Environmental attributes in product listings
  • Filter/search by environmental performance
  • Sustainability badges and callouts

Social Media​

  • Shareable graphics with key findings
  • Behind-the-scenes content (ingredient sourcing)
  • Impact comparison visualizations
  • Educational content about sustainability

Marketing Campaigns​

Launch Strategy​

  • Press release template
  • Media pitch angles
  • Influencer briefing materials
  • Retail partner communications

Ongoing Campaigns​

  • Seasonal messaging (Earth Day, World Environment Day)
  • Product comparison content
  • Customer testimonials and impact stories
  • Continuous improvement updates

Stakeholder Reporting​

Corporate Sustainability Reports​

  • Verified environmental data
  • Product-level sustainability metrics
  • Progress toward science-based targets
  • Alignment with CSRD requirements

Investor Communications​

  • ESG performance metrics
  • Product portfolio environmental analysis
  • Risk assessment (climate, water, biodiversity)
  • Innovation pipeline sustainability

B2B Communications​

  • Retailer sustainability programs
  • Supplier environmental assessments
  • Industry sustainability benchmarking
  • Partnership opportunities

Regulatory Compliance​

Environmental Claims Substantiation​

  • LCA backing for all environmental claims
  • Methodology transparency
  • Third-party verification documentation
  • Compliance with EU Empowering Consumers Directive (2024/825)

Carbon Disclosure​

  • Product carbon footprint data
  • Scope 3 emissions reporting
  • CDP questionnaire support
  • Science-based target alignment

Monitoring and Updates​

Annual Re-Assessment​

  • Update scores with ingredient sourcing changes
  • Reflect process improvements
  • Incorporate database refinements
  • Track progress over time

Continuous Improvement​

  • Monitor ingredient supplier performance
  • Test new packaging alternatives
  • Evaluate process innovations
  • Benchmark against competitor improvements
Communication Support

Eaternity provides ongoing support for score communication, including review of marketing materials, media inquiry assistance, and regulatory compliance guidance.

Success Metrics​

Track the impact of your Eaternity Score:

Consumer Engagement​

  • Website traffic to sustainability pages
  • Social media engagement on environmental posts
  • Customer feedback and surveys
  • Purchase behavior analysis

Market Performance​

  • Sales trends after score launch
  • Market share changes
  • Premium pricing acceptance
  • Retailer adoption

Environmental Impact​

  • Product improvements implemented
  • Cumulative emissions reduction
  • Sustainable ingredient sourcing increase
  • Packaging material optimization

Business Value​

  • Brand perception studies
  • Media coverage and PR value
  • Investor interest and ESG ratings
  • Competitive differentiation

Next Steps​