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%
3.5
Why this score ▸
The product contains significant quantities of critical raw materials including lithium, cobalt, and neodymium, which are on the EU Critical Raw Materials list. Although 68% of the content is recycled, the reliance on these scarce elements for the RC vehicle/drone function prevents a higher score.
Where do the materials come from?
SCR · 18%
5.5
Why this score ▸
The supply chain includes high-risk sourcing from the DRC, likely for cobalt or rare earths, but the presence of OECD Due Diligence guidance and an alternative supplier mitigates the risk to a moderate level. While the DRC presents a significant governance challenge, the inclusion of stable jurisdictions like Australia, Chile, and Germany, combined with the documented alternative supplier, prevents a high-risk classification.
Can it be recycled?
RC · 18%
8.0
Why this score ▸
The product achieves a high score due to verified practical recyclability, featuring screw-only disassembly, a compliant recycling label, and an active manufacturer take-back scheme. With 82% of materials entering verified recycling streams and design-for-disassembly principles applied, it meets the criteria for the 'Well-Designed for Recovery' category (7-8 range).
Can you fix it?
R · 13%
8.0
Why this score ▸
The product features all standard screws and has spare parts available for 8 years, supported by a public service manual. The iFixit score of 8 confirms this high level of repairability, placing it in the 'Designed for Repair' category despite not being under EU Ecodesign scope.
Is it made fairly?
SEI · 8%
7.0
Why this score ▸
The manufacturer demonstrates verified good practice with an RBA audit completed and ISO 14001:2015 certification. Manufacturing and assembly occur in Germany, an OECD jurisdiction with strong labour law enforcement, significantly mitigating supply chain risks.
How long will it last?
PL · 8%
7.5
Why this score ▸
The product achieves an above-average score due to an 8-year stated design life and an 8-year software support commitment, which aligns with the 7-8 year benchmark for connected devices. The modular design and 2-year warranty provide a solid foundation, though the lack of a submitted IP rating prevents a higher classification in the 'Designed for Life' tier.
Does it give back to nature?
RI · 15% · scale −10 to +10
-2.0
Why this score ▸
The product qualifies for the Extractive band (-5 to -1) due to 68% recycled content combined with a verified take-back and closed-loop programme. It is not Depleting because the substantial recycled content and verified recovery scheme meet the minimum threshold for exemption from the -7 floor. However, it does not reach the Renewable or Restorative bands as primary materials include mined elements and no Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) inputs or third-party verified restoration programmes were submitted.
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 RC vehicle or drone has an overall HIP Score of 5.9 out of 10, indicating a moderate performance in sustainability. It achieves a Regenerative Index of -2.0, which reflects that while it uses a high amount of recycled materials, it still relies on critical raw materials like lithium and cobalt. The product stands out for its long design life, availability of spare parts, and verified recyclability.
What This Means For You
When buying toys like this, look for products that offer long-term software support and spare parts to ensure they last for years. Prioritize items that are easy to take apart for recycling and come from manufacturers with verified ethical labor practices. Avoid products that lack clear information on how to repair them or recycle them at the end of their life.
Material Watch Points
- Cobalt — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Lithium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Neodymium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Cobalt — DRC supply concentration risk
- Neodymium — China ~70% of global rare earth mine production, ~85% of processing — high supply concentration
- Cobalt/Rare Earths — DRC sourcing (OECD risk category 7)
- Due diligence claimed but not third-party verified
Improvement Opportunities
| Dimension |
Current Score |
Potential |
Action |
| (To be completed after human review) |
— |
— |
— |
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 |
3.5 / 10 |
| SCR |
Supply Chain Risk |
0.18 |
5.5 / 10 |
| RC |
Recyclability and Circularity |
0.18 |
8.0 / 10 |
| R |
Repairability |
0.13 |
8.0 / 10 |
| SEI |
Social and Environmental Impact |
0.08 |
7.0 / 10 |
| PL |
Product Longevity |
0.08 |
7.5 / 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)
All sources are public domain or published under open data licences.
Full source list →
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: 2026-04-26 · Next review: 2027-04-26 · Methodology 1.5
