Meet the Earthlist

 The Earthlist is a set of requirements for products inside of Terra-bate that are ranked based on the contents of the product, and its packaging.

We make it required so if you are getting a cashback reward, that it must be truly eco-friendly. This provides more transparency for shoppers when trying to shop sustainably, so you don’t need to worry about sneaky greenwashing by companies.

From the ingredients and materials inside the product to it’s packaging, we check to ensure that anything that could be harmful to the environment is accounted for.

The problem being addressed…

Greenwashing.

Green-wash:

Definition:

“Misleading or deceptive publicity disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image. “

- Google Search

Many companies promote “eco” or sustainable products, but in reality still produce and sell products that are harmful to the environment. Companies who do greenwash usually do it as a marketing tactic to appear to look as if they care about the environment, to satisfy their customers or shareholders for a short time period.

For merchants who know they sell products that harm the planet or animals, accessibility and convenience is common issue that can make it difficult for merchants and their shoppers to transition to zero waste.

Most companies usually don’t understand they are selling products that are harmful to the environment, and happens out of ignorance and the need to make sales/stay in business.

The Earthlist also gives businesses a reference point for where their products are in terms of sustainability, and what is still needed to get to that next level and eventually achieve full sustainability within their company.

Cashback on products that do not help the planet wouldn’t make anything better, and be against our mission.

How it works…

The Earthlist currently works in 2 parts:

  1. Product

  2. Packaging

Product pertains to the ingredients & materials which the product consists of.

Packaging pertains to the wrapping and packaging of the product.

Terra-take off 🚀

The very first level of the Earthlist.

Strap in for take off, you’re on your way to having zero negative environmental impact.

Common Requirements (for all categories):

  • Product:

    • Product must be a plant-based alternative to an animal based product.

    • Product must not contain Palm oil or any palm oil derivatives.

    • Product ingredients or materials must not create new PFAS.

    • Product Materials or Ingredients must not contain fossil fuels or fossil fuel derivatives.

    • Product must be cruelty free.

    • Product must not create Phthalates.

    • Product must not contain toxic chemicals such as Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Avobenzone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene (Coral Reef killers and and Endocrine Disruptors).

    Packaging:

    • Product packaging must not create new PFAS.

    • Product packaging must not contain PVA (poly vinyl alcohol).

    • If product has packaging, it must be made from 100% upcycled or biodegradable materials (no new plastics), including no aluminum or tin foil, and if it contains paper, must be brown paper.

Category Specific:

  • Product:

    • Product Materials must not create PVA (poly vinyl alcohol).

    • Product being incentivized cannot only be a raw ingredient, unless the product is purchased using refillable packaging.

    • If Coffee, the product must be tested for and must not contain Mycotoxins.

    Packaging:

    • If plastic packaging was used, it must be recyclable, and not be virgin plastic.

      • PLASTIC PACKAGING IS NOT ALLOWED IF USED FOR WATER (disposable and reusable plastic water bottles)

    • Plastic that is allowed (recyclable) and not allowed:

    • Allowed

      • PET (1) (polyethylene terephthalate)

      • HDP (2) (High-Density Polyethylene)

    • Not Allowed

      • PVC (3) (Polyvinyl chloride)

      • LDPE (4)

      • PP (5)

      • PS (6)

      • PC, Other plastics (7)

      • Black colored plastics (nearly impossible to recycle)

    • Product packaging must not create new PFAS.

    • Product packaging must not contain PVA (poly vinyl alcohol)

    • If a product has packaging, it must be made from 100% upcycled or biodegradable materials (no new plastics), including no aluminum or tin foil, and if it contains paper, must be brown paper.

  • Product:

    All common product requirements apply for Home & Living.

    Packaging:

    All common product packaging requirements apply for Home & Living.

  • Product:

    • Toothbrush notice: Most current market toothbrushes contain nylon bristles. Nylon is a plastic, which could release PFAS. Due to the fact of maintaining competitive pricing, we do currently accept toothbrushes with nylon bristles. Shoppers are instructed to remove these bristles at the end of the product life.

      • As we grow, completely plastic free toothbrushes are planned to be offered.

    Packaging:

    • All common product packaging requirements apply for Care & Beauty.

  • Product:

    • Clothing article must not be a newly produced product with unsustainable materials, must only be 2nd hand or reused product (if containing unsustainable materials).

    • If clothing article is made from upcycled plastic materials, the article must be not contain any newly produced unsustainable materials (cannot be 50% upcycled and other percentage not).

    • If leather, it must not contain PU or PWC (plastic based vegan leather).

    • If Product contains Cotton it must be organic.

    • If product contains bamboo cotton, it must be organic bamboo cotton.

    Packaging:

    All common product requirements apply for Home & Living.

  • Product:

    • Product must not contain Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener).

    • Product must not contain:

      • Chocolate

      • Grapes

      • Raisins

      • Onions and garlic

      • Alcohol

      • Raw dough (yeast)

      • Raw/undercooked meat, bones or eggs

      • Corn syrup & excess sugars

      • Certain Essential Oils

        • Tea Tree

        • Eucalyptus

        • Pennyroyal

        • Citrus Oils

      • Salt- no more than 2 grams per serving

      • Macadamia Nuts

      • Nutmeg

      • Tobacco

      • Avocado

      • Cooked Bones - for choking risk.

      • Raw potatoes

      • Cinnamon, nutmeg, or mustard seeds

      • Lillies or Lillies derivative

      • Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

      • Rawhide Bones - for choking risk or digestive blocking issues.

    Packaging:

    All common product packaging requirements apply for Home & Living.

Kids category is not measured by the Earthlist.

  • We believe that products we use daily should not contain any harmful chemicals no matter what age you are.

  • Terra-bate will never offer unsafe products for children of any age.

As Terra-bate grows, the earthlist will also grow.

Terra-take off is first of 3 upcoming levels for achieving full sustainability.

Earthlist FAQs

  • We only allow PET and HDP plastic types as product packaging for Food & Drink due to the fact most plant-based food alternative products in the market don’t use reusable containers or compostable packaging yet, as it is difficult for food and drink brands to transition.

    We understand it’s not perfect, but recyclable packaging is a start for vegan alternatives and only gets a product into Terra-positive, but not Terra- zero.

Earthlist Disclaimers

Raw ingredients such as raw fruits and vegetables do not count as eco-friendly alternative and must be a complete product (manufactured or built product).

In the case of a product mistakenly containing a material or ingredient that violates the Earthlist, Terra-bate is not liable, as Terra-bate did not create the product and we are not yet able to see production ourselves. We trust and vet the products we buy from our wholesalers.

Terra-bate does in-depth research before adding items to the app. However, we are not liable for any misinformation of our products, as we also rely on the integrity of our merchants to provide reliable and truthful information.

Earthlist requirements can change. They can become more strict as the market becomes more sustainable, to achieve full sustainability.