Understanding the Score

The EcoStrain Score: Translating complex science into actionable impact.

The EcoStrain Score is a comprehensive metric ranging from 0 to 100 that translates complex Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data into a singular, scannable index of environmental stress per meal.

Score Range Classification Description
0 – 33 Low Strain Minimal environmental footprint; well within stable planetary boundaries.
34 – 66 Moderate Strain Balanced impact; contains one or more resource-intensive ingredients.
67 – 100 High Strain Severe environmental footprint; heavily depletes ecological systems.
Use your EcoStrain score to compare recipes and ingredients. We’ve normalized the score so whether you make one serving or an entire batch, the score stays the same.

Weighting Allocation

To prioritize immediate global climate threats alongside long-term ecological degradation, the categories are weighted as follows:

Carbon Footprint (35%)

Weighted highest due to the immediate, compounding threat of atmospheric greenhouse gas accumulation and global warming.

Water Footprint (20%)

Reflects acute global freshwater scarcity, penalizing excessive irrigation in water-stressed regions.

Land Use (15%)

Represents biodiversity loss and deforestation driven by agricultural expansion.

Eco-Toxicity (15%)

Accounts for localized chemical pollution, adjusted for data volatility across regional waterways.

Resource Depletion (15%)

Monitors fossil fuel and mineral fertilizer inputs necessary for intensive farming.

Calculate a Recipe See what these scores mean in real-world terms →