Appeal a HIP Score
If you believe a HIP Score is incorrect or unfair, you have the right to submit a formal appeal. We take every appeal seriously and respond within 30 days.
This procedure exists because we believe accountability should be a default, not just an obligation. It is a core part of how we operate.
How to appeal
Email score-appeal@resourcehip.com with:
- The product name and category — as it appears on resourcehip.com
- The current score you are challenging
- Why you believe the score is incorrect — see grounds for appeal below
- Any supporting evidence — data, certifications, URLs, audit reports
Use the subject line: APPEAL: [Product Name] — [Category]
We will acknowledge your appeal within 2 business days and provide a full response within 30 calendar days.
Who can appeal
Anyone affected by a HIP Score can submit an appeal:
- Manufacturers and distributors whose products are rated
- Consumers who rely on scores for purchasing decisions
- Industry bodies, NGOs, academics, or journalists with specific grounds
Appeals must relate to a published HIP Score and be submitted within 12 months of publication.
Grounds for appeal
You may challenge a score on one or more of the following grounds:
Data error
The original scoring used incorrect or outdated data. For example: a product was rated based on a superseded lifecycle assessment, or manufacturer data was misattributed.
What to provide: Link to the correct data source, explanation of the error, any official documentation.
Rubric misapplication
The original scoring contradicts the published rubric criteria. For example: a product meets the criteria for a higher score band, but the criterion was not applied.
What to provide: Quote the rubric criterion from our Methodology page and show how your product meets it.
New data available
New sustainability data has become available since the original rating. For example: the manufacturer has obtained a new environmental certification, or a third-party audit has been published.
What to provide: The new data source, when it became available, and how it changes the assessment.
Suspected system bias
The score reflects systematic AI bias rather than an accurate assessment. For example: all products in a category are systematically underscored, or a score contradicts all input data.
What to provide: Specific examples, statistical evidence if available, and why you believe bias is involved.
What happens next
| Step | Timeline | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Within 2 business days | We confirm receipt and assign a ticket ID |
| Technical review | Days 3 to 15 | Our technical team re-scores the product independently using the same rubric and current data |
| Management review | Days 16 to 25 | A senior reviewer considers the technical findings and your evidence |
| Response | Days 26 to 30 | You receive a detailed written decision |
Possible outcomes
- Score revised — if the review finds an error or material new data, the score is updated and republished within 5 business days with a notice explaining the change.
- Score upheld — if the review confirms the original score is correct, you receive a detailed explanation referencing the rubric and data sources.
If you disagree with the decision
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have three options:
- Clarification meeting — scheduled within 15 days, conducted by the CEO and technical lead. No cost.
- Independent external review — an external sustainability expert reviews all materials and provides a binding recommendation. Cost shared equally unless the expert recommends revision, in which case Resourcehip bears the full cost.
- Regulatory complaint — for UK data protection concerns, contact the ICO. For EU AI Act concerns, contact the market surveillance authority in your EU member state.
Transparency
We publish quarterly appeal statistics — number of appeals received, outcomes, and average resolution time — on our Audit Reports page. Individual appeal outcomes are anonymised unless the appellant requests public attribution.
Appeal email: score-appeal@resourcehip.com
SLA: 30 calendar days
Effective: 16 June 2026
Next review: 16 December 2026
For general enquiries, contact hello@resourcehip.com. For AI governance information, see Responsible AI & Governance.