Cost Breakdown Estimate

Cost of sourcing and procuring base materials (e.g., bamboo, steel, cotton fiber). Higher percentages often indicate quality materials and sustainable sourcing.

Production costs including machinery, energy, and facility overhead. This covers the actual transformation of materials into finished products.

Wages paid to workers throughout the production process. Higher percentages often indicate fair trade or domestic production. A product with 30% labor costs likely pays better wages than one with 8%.

Shipping and logistics costs from manufacturing to retail, including packaging. Lower percentages often indicate local production, which also means lower carbon emissions.

Advertising, branding, and promotional expenses. Lower percentages suggest word-of-mouth or values-driven sales rather than heavy advertising spending.

Retailer margins including store operations, staff, and distribution network costs. Direct-to-consumer brands typically have lower retail margins.

Manufacturer and brand profit margins. Sustainable brands often have modest margins (4-10%) focused on long-term viability rather than maximizing short-term profits.