Category rating — not an assessment of any specific brand
This rating covers a typical, mass-market
small appliances product based on publicly available data.
It does not name or assess any specific manufacturer or product.
Individual products may perform better or worse.
Learn about verified ratings →
Below HIP Mark threshold
Score 2.6/10 — Standard mark requires 6.0
Standard
Silver
Gold
Category best achievable: 6.5
Depleting — materials are being used up with no way to replace them
This is what a typical vacuum cleaner looks like today. It's built to last longer than the typical one. If the maker shares their data, the score usually goes up.
Category baseline
2.6 HIP
Below Standard
Category ceiling: 6.5 HIP
Regenerative Index
-7.0
Depleting
Category ceiling RI: -2.0
What this score means
This is the starting score for Vacuum Cleaners, based only on public data. No maker has sent us
their own data yet. The ceiling score (shown below) is what a product can reach when the maker
shares real evidence. To close the gap, makers apply for a verified rating.
Make this product? You can raise this score.
The starting score for this category is 2.6 HIP.
With full evidence, a product in this category can reach 6.5 HIP.
Our first verified product scored 6.9 and earned the HIP Mark.
Share your product data and we score what you can prove.
Apply for verified assessment
What to Check Before You Buy
- Check the motor is accessible and a spare is stocked. The motor is the most expensive failure; machines where it is not available become uneconomic to repair.
- Confirm filters are stocked as named spare parts. Filters are consumables that degrade; a vacuum that outlives its filter supply is effectively disposable.
- Look for a full bag model over bagless if longevity is the priority. Bagged models have fewer parts subject to seal degradation; repair history in the category favours bagged for long-term use.
- Check the warranty length. Two years is standard; three-plus years for full-sized upright and cylinder models signals better build confidence.
Score Breakdown
How rare are the materials?
MSI · 20%
1.5
Why this score ▸
The product relies heavily on critical raw materials including cobalt, lithium, and neodymium, all listed on the EU Critical Raw Materials list. Supply chains for these materials face high concentration risks, particularly with rare earth elements sourced from China. The absence of recycled content and missing data on extraction origins prevents any credit for supply diversity or circularity.
Where do the materials come from?
SCR · 18%
3.5
Why this score ▸
The vacuum cleaner is assembled in China, a primary source for copper, steel, and rare earth magnets, creating concentration risk where over 60% of global supply originates from a single jurisdiction. No due-diligence programme or third-party audit is documented, and no alternative suppliers are verified for these critical components.
Can it be recycled?
RC · 18%
3.0
Why this score ▸
The vacuum cleaner is assumed to be glued, preventing practical material separation, and lacks a take-back scheme or compliant recycling labels. Only metal components are practically recovered, representing approximately 20% of the product weight entering recycling streams, which aligns with the baseline for mass-market small appliances without disassembly design.
Can you fix it?
R · 13%
2.0
Why this score ▸
The vacuum cleaner is assumed to be glued shut with no spare parts available and no public service manual. This configuration aligns with the unrepairable category typical of sealed consumer electronics designed for replacement rather than repair.
Is it made fairly?
SEI · 8%
3.5
Why this score ▸
The product is manufactured in China, a jurisdiction with elevated labour risk profiles, and no third-party audits or environmental certifications were submitted. The assessment falls at the pre-verification baseline for mass-market consumer goods produced in Asia without independent verification of social or environmental management systems.
How long will it last?
PL · 8%
5.0
Why this score ▸
The product receives a score of 5.0 based on a 2-year warranty and a stated design life of 6 years, which aligns with the average lifespan criteria for vacuum cleaners. The assessment assumes no IP rating or modular design due to missing data, and the score reflects the standard fastener repairability typical of this category.
Does it give back to nature?
RI · 15% · scale −10 to +10
-7.0
Why this score ▸
The product is classified as Depleting because it relies on virgin mined materials with zero recycled content and lacks a take-back scheme. This aligns with the Depleting band criteria for conventional electronics where primary materials actively deplete finite geological reserves without credible recovery pathways. It does not qualify for the Extractive band minimum of -3 because the required 50% recycled content and verified take-back scheme are absent.
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 vacuum cleaner has a HIP Score of 2.6 out of 10, which matches the current market baseline for this category. Its Regenerative Index is -7.0, indicating it relies heavily on new materials rather than recycled ones. Overall, the product is designed with limited repairability and contains critical minerals that are in high demand.
What This Means For You
When shopping for a vacuum cleaner, look for models that offer spare parts, repair manuals, and take-back programs to extend the product's life. Prioritize items with higher recycled content and those assembled in regions with verified labor standards. Choosing products designed for easy disassembly helps reduce reliance on virgin mining and supports a more circular economy.
Data Transparency
This is a category rating based on publicly available data. The following data fields were not submitted by a manufacturer and have been estimated conservatively using open reference data and the category default assumptions table v0.1 (provisional — sources pending full citation):
material_percentagesrecycled_content_pctcountry_of_primary_extractionprimary_sourcing_countriestier1_supplier_countdue_diligence_standardalternative_supplier_existsdisassembly_typerecyclable_streams_pctrecycling_label_compliantdesign_for_disassemblyfastener_typespare_parts_availablespare_parts_years_committedservice_manual_publicifixit_scoreecodesign_in_scopemanufacturing_countriesenvironmental_certificationsthird_party_certificationrba_audit_completedmodern_slavery_statementilo_compliance_claimedip_ratingmodular_designsoftware_support_yearsprimary_material_originregenerative_certificationsclosed_loop_programmeend_of_life_programmematerial_origin_certifiedregenerative_practices
A verified rating uses manufacturer-submitted data and produces a more accurate, product-specific score.
Material Watch Points
- Cobalt — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Lithium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Neodymium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- China ~70% of global rare earth mine production, ~85% of processing — high supply concentration
- Copper and rare earth magnets — >60% global supply from China
- No due-diligence programme documented
- No alternative supplier verified
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 |
1.5 / 10 |
| SCR |
Supply Chain Risk |
0.18 |
3.5 / 10 |
| RC |
Recyclability and Circularity |
0.18 |
3.0 / 10 |
| R |
Repairability |
0.13 |
2.0 / 10 |
| SEI |
Social and Environmental Impact |
0.08 |
3.5 / 10 |
| PL |
Product Longevity |
0.08 |
5.0 / 10 |
| RI |
Regenerative Index |
0.15 |
-7.0 (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 Depleting.
Weighted HIP Score: 2.6 / 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 →
About this rating:
HIP scores are based on public data 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 category rating for Vacuum Cleaners and does not assess any specific brand or manufacturer.
Individual products may perform better or worse than this baseline.
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.
Dispute this rating · Our methodology · All ratings
Assessed: 2026-06-17 · Next review: 2027-06-02 · Methodology 1.5
