THE SCIENCE OF SUSTAINABILITY

z-score explained by rollie williams

The Z-Score

United by Zero evaluates products across hundreds of data points representing seven critical categories of sustainability: chemical use, water use, supply chain transparency, circularity, humanity, animal welfare, and C02 and energy use. The result: the Z-Score.

Personalize the Z-Score by ranking what's most important to you. Your Z-Score takes into account what the science team tells us is most important for sustainability, and what you tell us you care about most. From there, you can easily discover brands and products that are sustainable and aligned with your values.

The Z-score brings transparency to commerce so you can shop with conviction.

Chemical Use

What Is Measured

This category includes whether the company is using chemicals of concern in its products and processes, as well as how they manage that waste.

Sustainability Impact

Toxic chemicals in your clothes can cause health problems and skin irritation. The release of hazardous chemicals to the environment is extremely harmful to human and animal lives.

Water Use

What Is Measured

This category assessed the degree to which the company integrates responsible use of water in its production processes.

Sustainability Impact

Irresponsible use of water may lead to negative repercussions including affecting surrounding communities (health & environment), or leading to water scarcity.

Supply Chain Transparency

What Is Measured

This category assesses the degree to which a company has an overview of their product's value chain, including data access from stakeholders (regarding labor conditions, materials traceability, manufacturing conditions and animal welfare).

Sustainability Impact

Traceability of materials and transparency of the processes in the value chain provides clarity on key sustainability aspects including animal welfare, material origin, manufacturing conditions, additive and chemicals usage, labor rights and treatment of workers, the safety of workers and surrounding communities, etc.

Circularity

What Is Measured

This category assesses the use of post-production and/or post-consumer materials in the product. It also captures durability features and take back/recycling programs offered to customers. Recyclability and compostability of packaging and tags are also included here.

Sustainability Impact

Circularity of products and processes is key to prevent waste and pollution. In a perfect sustainable world, all sub-products have a use and every manufacturer is responsible for its waste.

Humanity

What Is Measured

This category includes how your company treats humans within its company, supply chain and broader community.

Sustainability Impact

Social choices and factors including wages, human rights, philanthropy, benefits, contract agreements all work to reduce harm- a crucial sustainability tenant for United by Zero.

Animal Welfare

What Is Measured

This category assesses the degree to which your company embeds animal welfare and the use of animal-derived materials into the production processes.

Sustainability Impact

Welfare of animals and the derivation of materials from animals (without necessary harm / prohibited practices and according recognized standards) are key sustainability factors for United by Zero.

C02 & Energy Use

What Is Measured

This category assesses the extent a company measures its carbon footprint and is taking steps to reduce it.

Sustainability Impact

Greenhouse gas emissions are the most significant driver of climate change. All companies are responsible for understanding and meaningfully reducing their carbon footprint in alignment with CDP and/or SBTi guidance.

White Paper

We are committed to being transparent about how the Z-Score works. Our white paper details the foundational work of the Z-Score. As our science team continues to improve the process of Z-scoring, we will do so with transparency and integrity.

Read the white paper

Science Team

Dr. Amanda Gorman

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Dr. Leticia Socal

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Lia Colabello

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Dr. Xenia Mutter

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Dr. Matt Walz

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Eliza Erskine

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Maggie Pendleton

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Jonas Donnenfield

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Work With Us

If you're committed to sustainable practices, we want to hear from you. United by Zero works with brands of all sizes. The process of getting scored is free and we support you from start to finish.