Our data is sourced from multiple peer-reviewed datasets, scientific studies, white papers, and public institutions, listed below. We are deeply indebted to Dr. Meskin Mekonnen at the University of Alabama, the co-author of the widely-cited green, blue and grey water footprint studies of crops and farm animals.

Certain water statistics, under Dr. Mekonnen's guidance, are unique and original to Siitch.

Our friends and Supervisors of the Burbank Recycle Center and Burbank Landfill provided many of the time to decompose, compostability and recyclability datasets based on their 50+ years of combined experience.

All attempts have been made to represent the most accurate information possible. We acknowledge that some scientists and researchers will disagree on the amount of water it takes to produce certain items, as well as how long items take to decompose in a landfill, etc. We will continue to update our database as new information becomes available.

Here are a few sources:

• Mekonnen, M.M. and Hoekstra, A.Y. (2010) The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crop products.
  Value of Water Research Report Series No. 47, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, the Netherlands

• Mekonnen, M.M. and Hoekstra, A.Y. (2010) The green, blue and grey water footprint of farm animals and animal products.
  Value of Water Research Report Series No. 48, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, the Netherlands

• USDA Food Data Central

• USDA 1992 - Conversion Factors and Weights and Measures for Agricultural Commodities and Their Products

• USFDA

• United Nations F.A.O.

  
  

• Water Footprint Network

  
  

• Water Calculator.org

  
  

• National Resource Defense Council

  
  

• Your Water Footprint - Leahy

  
  

• The Green Blue Book - Kostigen

  
  

• National Geographic

  
  

• US National Parks Service

  
  

• Burbank Recycle Center

  
  

• CalRecyle

  
  

• USEPA

  
  

• TED-ED

  
  

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation

  
  

• The Lexicon