1. What is an Eco Index? How does the system work, and how are scores assigned?

An Eco Index is a a way to benchmark and measure their environmental footprint, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and make informed sourcing and product life cycle decisions. This system allows companies to see their "footprint" by analyzing how materials, packaging, product manufacturing & assembly, transport & distribution, use & service, and the end of life effect the surround area in ways like land use intensity, water, waste, biodiversity, chemistry/toxins (to people and the environment) and energy use.

The questions cover every step in the life of a product, from raw-material production to manufacturing, shipping, and even disposal. For instance, Levi’s gets points for having a recycling program that lets consumers drop off their old jeans at Goodwill, and Timberland earns points for using leather tanneries that have wastewater-purifying systems. Points are lost for using bulky packing material or transporting goods long distances. The Eco Index also includes estimates of how consumers will wash and eventually dispose of their clothes. Some of the points are awarded for changes with questionable impact. For example, Levi’s gets credit for its care tags that ask consumers to wash their jeans in cold water, line-dry and donate to Goodwill. These are all reviewed and given a percentage of a perfect score.

What are some companies that are conscious about sustainability and what are they doing that others could use as a model?

What are some companies that are conscious about sustainability and what are they doing that others could use as a model?

Timberland's, Levi’s, and Brooks had made many different changes to help the community go green. This Article had talked about in detail how these companies made some changes to help the community and go green.Timberland's had started to seek out new leather with more sustainable standards. Levi’s had changed its transportation routes to make them more efficient and reduce carbon emissions by 700 metric tons. They also cut back on packaging to allow only three pieces of labeling with jeans. Brooks had redesigned its show boxes after finding that the score wasn’t as high as they had hoped. So then they stopped stuffing the insides of shoes with tissue paper, along with many other changes. I believe that other companies can look at these stores and realize what they can reduce on or do to be more conscious about sustainability. They can also maybe find better idea that will maybe help these companies make more changes to help out not only their company but the environment. I believe that companies should make many changes to go green to help the world. What do you think? Do you agree or do you disagree?

-Amelia

What are some complaints about the Eco Index as it exists now?

Right now the Eco Index has some problems because every step in the life of a product affects the Ecosystem. When cloths are being manufactured they use a lot of things like cotton, thread, water, etc. Most clothes use multiple tags, these tags use a lot of plastic and most of the tags used for these clothes aren’t necessary. I think one tag is enough. There is a lot of shipping products go through before they reach their destinations, so that uses a lot of fuel. People could donate their old clothes when they no longer want them but a lot of them just throw out their old clothes. I think companies should put on their tag that these clothes should not be thrown out, they should be donated to good will. What do you think makers of these products could do to make the Eco Index better?

-Ashley