Category ceiling
5.9 HIP
This is the best score a product in this category can reach when the maker shares full data about
its materials, supply chain, repairs, and end-of-life. It is a target, not a product on sale today.
Standard HIP Mark not achievable in this category
The ceiling score for this category is 5.9, below the 6.0 threshold for the Standard HIP Mark.
This is due to structural material constraints — not poor design.
The best-performing verified product in this category may qualify for
Category Leader recognition instead.
HIP Score
5.9/10
Below Standard
At category baseline (5.9)
Category ceiling: 5.9 HIP
Regenerative Index
-2.0
Extractive
At category average (-2.0)
Category ceiling RI: -2.0
Score Breakdown
How rare are the materials?
MSI · 20%
4.5
Why this score ▸
This toothbrush uses metals like cobalt and lithium that are hard to find. These materials are needed for it to work, so it cannot use only easy-to-find stuff.
Technical detail ▸
The product contains functional amounts of EU Critical Raw Materials, specifically cobalt at 2% and lithium at 4%, which disqualifies it from the low scarcity bands. While the supply chain demonstrates diversity through certifications in Chile, Australia, DRC, and Finland, the presence of these critical materials at non-trace weights limits the score to the scarce range.
Where do the materials come from?
SCR · 18%
6.0
Why this score ▸
Some parts come from places where rules are hard to follow, but the maker checks where things come from. They also use other places to make sure they have enough materials.
Technical detail ▸
The supply chain includes sourcing from the DRC, a high-risk jurisdiction for cobalt, but the presence of an OECD due-diligence framework and a documented alternative supplier mitigates the risk to a moderate level. Diversification across Australia, Chile, and the EU alongside assembly in Germany further supports a score of 6.0.
Can it be recycled?
RC · 18%
8.0
Why this score ▸
You can take this toothbrush apart with a screwdriver to separate the parts. Most of the pieces can be recycled into new products after you stop using it.
Technical detail ▸
The electric toothbrush features screw-based disassembly and a compliant recycling label, enabling material separation. With a verified take-back scheme and 92% of materials entering practical recycling streams, the product meets the criteria for well-designed recovery, exceeding the standard baseline for small appliances.
Can you fix it?
R · 13%
0.0
Why this score ▸
This part does not apply to electric toothbrushes because they do not use materials that grow back quickly.
Technical detail ▸
Dimension not applicable for this product type.
Is it made fairly?
SEI · 8%
7.0
Why this score ▸
The factory follows good rules for the environment and checks that workers are treated fairly. The place where it is made has strong laws to protect people.
Technical detail ▸
The manufacturer holds ISO 14001:2015 certification and has completed an RBA audit, which qualifies for the Verified Good Practice tier. Production occurs in Germany, an OECD jurisdiction with strong labour law enforcement, further supporting the score. While ILO compliance is claimed, the RBA audit provides the necessary third-party verification for social practices.
How long will it last?
PL · 8%
7.0
Why this score ▸
This toothbrush is designed to last eight years and comes with a three-year guarantee. You can fix it to keep it working longer, but it does not have a water-proof rating.
Technical detail ▸
The product achieves an above-average lifespan score driven by a 3-year warranty and a stated design life of 8 years. The modular design feature supports repairability, aligning with criteria for the 7-8 range. Missing IP rating data prevents a higher score in the 'Designed for Life' category.
Does it give back to nature?
RI · 15% · scale −10 to +10
-2.0
Why this score ▸
More than half of the parts are made from recycled materials that were used before. The maker has a plan to get these parts back, but it does not yet help nature grow more.
Technical detail ▸
The product qualifies for the Extractive band (-5 to -1) due to 55% recycled content combined with a verified take-back scheme and closed-loop programme. It is not Depleting because the substantial recycled content and verified recovery pathway prevent the application of the -7 floor. While bio-based nylon is present, the absence of Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) or equivalent third-party verification for regenerative practices limits the score to the Extractive range rather than Renewable or Restorative.
MSI 20% · SCR 18% · RC 18% · R 13% · SEI 8% · PL 8% · RI 15% = 100%
About the HIP Methodology ▸
Starting scores are low on purpose. We only count what we can confirm from public data,
so most products sit between 2 and 4 out of 10 before a maker shares their own evidence.
That gap between the starting score and what a product could reach is the whole point.
When a maker proves what their product is really made of, the score goes up.
The HIP Mark shows it has been checked.
Read the full methodology →
Consumer Summary
This electric toothbrush earns an overall score of 5.9 out of 10, matching the current market baseline for personal care items. It has a Regenerative Index of -2.0, meaning it uses recycled materials and has a plan to get them back, but it does not yet give back to nature. The product is built to last and can be taken apart for recycling, though it relies on materials that are becoming harder to find.
What This Means For You
When buying an electric toothbrush, look for models that last a long time and can be easily fixed or recycled. Choose products that use recycled parts and have a clear plan for what happens when you are done with them. Avoid items that are glued together or made only from new materials that are running out.
Material Watch Points
- Cobalt — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Lithium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Cobalt — DRC sourcing presents high geopolitical risk
- Due-diligence programme referenced but not third-party audited
Improvement Opportunities
| Dimension |
Current Score |
Potential |
Action |
| (To be completed after human review) |
— |
— |
— |
Rating History
| Version |
Date |
Score |
Change |
Reason |
| v2 |
2026-06-14 |
5.9 |
6.5 → 5.9 |
methodology_bump |
| v1 |
2026-06-11 |
6.5 |
— |
initial |
How this score was calculated
The HIP Score is a weighted average of seven dimensions measuring material
resilience, supply chain integrity, and end-of-life characteristics.
| Code |
Dimension |
Weight |
Score |
| MSI |
Material Scarcity Index |
0.20 |
4.5 / 10 |
| SCR |
Supply Chain Risk |
0.18 |
6.0 / 10 |
| RC |
Recyclability and Circularity |
0.18 |
8.0 / 10 |
| R |
Repairability |
0.13 |
— / 10 |
| SEI |
Social and Environmental Impact |
0.08 |
7.0 / 10 |
| PL |
Product Longevity |
0.08 |
7.0 / 10 |
| RI |
Regenerative Index |
0.15 |
-2.0 (raw) |
Regenerative Index note: RI scores on a unique scale of -10 to +10.
Before weighting, the raw score is normalised: RI normalised = (RI raw + 10) / 2.
This product's RI band is Extractive.
Weighted HIP Score: 5.9 / 10
· Methodology v1.5
Base weights shown. Some product types use category-specific weight profiles —
see full methodology for details.
Read the full methodology →
Data Sources
This rating draws on the following public sources:
USGS Mineral Resources Program (public domain) · EU Critical Raw Materials List 2023 (CC BY 4.0) · World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · Category default assumptions table v0.1 (provisional — sources pending full citation)
All sources are public domain or published under open data licences.
Full source list →
Rating Version
electric-toothbrush-ceiling@v2
Published 2026-06-14.
This rating has been updated 1 time since first publication.
Previous versions remain available for reference.
About this rating:
HIP scores are based on public data and information the maker sent us at the date shown.
They show how well a product holds up over time — not a promise about safety or future supply.
Resourcehip is not liable for choices made based on these ratings.
Scope:
This is a verified product rating for Category Ceiling, assessed using manufacturer-submitted data and public category data.
Produced under Resourcehip Scoring Methodology 1.5 (CC BY-NC 4.0).
AI disclosure:
An AI model scored this rating on our own hardware — no data was sent to the cloud.
A human reviewer checked and approved it before it went live.
Model: qwen3.5:35b.
AI transparency notice →
Not financial or investment advice.
Ratings are for consumer information only.
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Assessed: 2026-06-14 · Next review: 2027-06-14 · Methodology 1.5 · electric-toothbrush-ceiling@v2
