This calculator was built by Serge (MSc) using published standards (FTC Green Guides, ISO 14000). My academic background covers Plant Biochemistry, Environmental Biology, Biogeochemistry, and Ecotoxicology. This is an estimation tool for educational purposes, not professional advice, medical diagnosis, or assessment.

Greenwashing Score Calculator

Greenwashing is marketing dressed as environmentalism. A product says “eco-friendly” and “natural,” so you assume it is better. But what is the evidence, and what is just spin?

I studied quality control of measurements. That taught me how to read a label critically. Not just what a product claims, but how it backs up what it says.

This calculator scores a product’s label on transparency, certification, and evidence, so you can see how much of its green image is substance and how much is marketing.

Score a Product

Product Name (optional) Type the product name if you want to remember what you checked. Does the label show a full ingredient list? Full disclosure of every ingredient, not just “plant-based actives”. Is there a recognised third-party certification? Independent marks like Ecocert, Green Seal, EU Ecolabel, USDA Organic. Not the brand’s own logo. Does it rely on vague claims? Empty phrases like “chemical-free”, “all natural”, “non-toxic”, “eco-friendly” with nothing to back them. Is evidence provided for the claims? Test data, references, links to studies, or a clear explanation of why a claim is true. Is the company transparent about sourcing and manufacturing? Clear information on where ingredients come from and how the product is made.

How This Works

Greenwashing happens when a company makes a product look more environmentally friendly than the evidence supports. The label leans on green imagery and feel-good words while avoiding hard detail.

This calculator scores five things a trustworthy eco-product should have: a full ingredient list, independent certification, specific rather than vague claims, evidence for those claims, and transparency about sourcing and manufacturing.

Each answer adds points. A higher total means more substance behind the green image. A lower total means the marketing is doing most of the work.

Understanding Your Result

The calculator gives you a score out of 12 and a category:

10 to 12 — Low Greenwashing. Transparent, certified, and evidence-backed. The green claims are supported by real detail.

6 to 9 — Moderate Greenwashing. Some solid points, but gaps remain. The marketing is doing part of the work. Worth a closer look.

3 to 5 — High Greenwashing. Weak transparency and little evidence. The green image rests mostly on marketing language.

0 to 2 — Extreme Greenwashing. Eco-branding with almost nothing behind it. Treat the environmental claims with strong scepticism.

Important Limitations

This is a screening tool, not proof. It scores what the label tells you, not the product itself. A high score does not guarantee a product is truly green, and a low score does not prove it is harmful.

✗ Does not test the product or its performance
✗ Does not independently verify certifications
✗ Does not assess safety or health effects
✗ Does not account for regional labelling regulations

Always verify third-party certifications independently. Check the certifying body’s own database rather than trusting a logo on the packaging.

Scientific Basis

Based on:

FTC Green Guides. The US Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on environmental marketing claims. It sets out what makes a green claim substantiated versus deceptive.
Read the FTC Green Guides →

ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards. International standards covering environmental labelling and self-declared environmental claims, including the criteria for credible certification.
Learn about ISO 14000 →