What does it mean that the Article Impact vs Industry Standard Benchmark difference is negative?

A negative number on our platform can mean two opposite things, depending on which view you’re using. One signifies an environmental benefit, while the other signifies an environmental debt.

Here’s a clear breakdown of each context.

Context 1: Your product’s absolute impact (default LCA list view)

In this standard view, a negative impact is GOOD. It represents an environmental saving or benefit. ✅

This happens when a product’s lifecycle actively avoids or removes more impact than it creates. Think of it like a bank account for the environment:

• Positive impact (+10 kg CO_2​): This is an environmental cost, like a withdrawal from the account.
• Negative impact (-10 kg CO₂​): This is an environmental benefit, like a deposit that improves the account’s balance.

For example, a t-shirt made from materials that sequester carbon might have a negative Global warming impact, meaning its production actually benefited the climate.

Context 2: Comparison to the Industry Standard Benchmark

When you activate the “Industry Standard Benchmark,” a negative result is BAD. It represents an environmental debt, meaning your product performs worse than the industry standard. ❌

This view shows you the difference between a standard product’s impact and your product’s impact. The calculation is:

[Benchmark Impact] - [Your Product's Impact] = Result

Let’s use an example:

• The industry standard impact for a t-shirt is 20 units.
• Your product’s impact is 25 units (higher, which is worse).
• The calculation is 20 - 25 = -5. This negative result means your product has an environmental debt of 5 units compared to the standard.

Conversely, if your product’s impact was only 15 units (better than the standard), the result would be 20 - 15 = +5. This positive result represents an environmental saving.

Quick summary

Use this table as a quick reference: