How to trust our calculator.

Our impact calculator is carefully constructed to serve accurate, reliable information while also cooperating with the current shortage of available information. We recognize that this shortage is not just a product of corporate resistance against transparency. In fact, not only have many companies been publishing sustainability reports in reponse to the pressures of increasing demand from investors, but public companies are soon expected to face a federal requirement to do so as well.

[Good Lab’s recorded and anticipated timeline on the progress of SEC’s disclosure requirements.]

The methodology for how we source and serve our information aims to be considerate of the accessibility challenges that companies might face in finding the proper resources to measure, track, report, and verify such metrics.

Here’s how we ensure that such accommodation does not compromise the integrity of the information that our users will base their purchase decisions on: A Source-Reliability Score (SRS) Minimum.

Every user will be allowed to set their own minimums for how reliable a source must be to include its information in our calculations. By default, this SRS minimum will be set to 1 on a 0–5 scale. Then, each impact score, is attached with the average SRS score across all pieces of information that were included in the calculation.

Here is how we priortize our sources:

0 = No real proof. No data.

1 = Self-submitted data.

2 = Self-submitted data with 3rd party verification or ESG software sync.

3 = Reported by a mostly reliable source. (ie. news publications)

4 = Reported by a reliable source and/or multiple mostly reliable sources.

5 = Self-submitted with trusted 3rd party verification or trusted ESG software sync, or or widely known information.*

6 = Complete open-door transparency and cooperation with trusted ESG software sync. Special indication.

Reliability scores deteriorate over time, unless the metric is a fixed condition. (Users may further restrict their calculator dependence from old information.)

*trusted third parties (sustainability auditors, analysts, consultants, etc.) are those that have (1) been verified by our team to be reliable, accredited, and/or reputable, and (2) signed a simple contract that holds them liable for their due diligence in accurate reporting and rigorous investigations.

We believe that evolving towards transparency is an inevitable phenomenon. We only hope to secure its timely progress by making sure that the journey is a rewarding one throughout. We warmly welcome any suggestions or questions that might help us further perfect this system. Feel free to post comments on Medium or connect with us on social media!