New metrics are disclosed for characterizing polyethylene copolymers which can be computed from the Cross-Fractionation Chromatography data of these polymers. These metrics are able to quantify the Broad Orthogonal Composition Distribution (BOCD) character of the polymers, and they can be used to discriminate polymers with an enhanced BOCD character from polymers that have the BOCD character to a lesser extent or from polymers that have the conventional molecular weight distribution and/or branching distribution.