Green Glossary
Common "Green" Terms & Definitions
A
Air pollution - contaminants or substances in the air that interfere with human health or produce other harmful environmental effects.
Alternative energy - usually environmentally friendly, this is energy from uncommon sources such as wind power or not fossil fuels.
Alternative fuels - similar to above. Not petrol or diesel but different transportation fuels like natural gas, methanol, bio fuels and electricity.
B
Bamboo - Depending on who you ask, bamboo is the new, eco-friendly product of the season. Used to make everything from blankets to shoes to flooring, bamboo is a versatile and, more importantly, fast-growing and replenishable plant.
Biodegradable - The ability of a material to decompose through natural processes and eventually be reabsorbed by the natural environment. Biodegradable products include all plant and animal material, paper, food waste and fibers. Plastic, glass and metals are not biodegradable. However, even biodegradable materials will not break down once they are buried in a landfill because they are deprived of oxygen, which is necessary for decomposition. Composting provides optimal conditions for biodegradation. The "Biodegradable" label on products like cosmetics, cleaning supplies, packaging or household items is not necessarily reliable because it is not verified and follows no uniform standards.
BPA or Bisphenol-A - is a chemical found in plastics and which can behave similar to estrogen and other hormones in our bodies. Unlike phthalates, which are found in soft plastic products, BPA is found in hard plastics, like baby bottles. BPA is also found in other plastic containers, such as plastic water bottles.
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Carbon dioxide - CO2 is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. However the amount of it increases when we burn fossil fuels.
Carbon footprint - a measure of the your impact on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
Carbon monoxide - a colourless, odourless and highly toxic gas commonly created during combustion.
Chlorofluorocarbons - CFCs are man-made chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Often used in older fridges and air conditions, the chlorine in CFCs damage the ozone layer.
Climate change - a change in temperature and weather patterns due to human activity like burning fossil fuels.
Composting - a process whereby organic wastes, including food and paper, decompose naturally, resulting in a produce rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioner, mulch, resurfacing material, or landfill cover.
Conservation - preserving and renewing, when possible, human and natural resources.
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Eco-assessment - an evaluation of your home or workplace with the aim of cutting your energy and water usage.
Eco-bag - a ethically, organically made bag to use instead of plastic carrier bags.
Eco-friendly - Also known as "environmentally friendly" or "nature-friendly," eco-friendly refers to goods and services that inflict minimal harm on the environment.
Energy efficiency - ways and technology that can reduce the amount of electricity or fuel used to do the same work. Such as keeping a house warm using less energy.
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Fossil fuel - coal, oil and natural gas. A fuel that’s been made by the decomposition of fossilised plants and animals.
Fuel cell - a technology that uses an electrochemical process to convert energy into electrical power. Often powered by natural gas, fuel cell power is cleaner than grid-connected power sources. In addition, hot water is produced as a by-product.
G
Geothermal energy - heat that comes from the earth.
Global warming - an increase in the average temperature of the earth, attributed to the burning of fossil fuels.
Green - The adjective used to describe people, behaviors, products, policies, standards, processes, places, movements or ideas that promote, protect, restore or minimize damage to the environment.
Greenhouse effect - explains global warming. It’s the process that raises the temperature of air in the lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone.
Greywater - waste water that does not contain sewage or fecal contamination (such as from the shower) and can be reused for irrigation after filtration.
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Hemp - Long a favorite accessory and jewelry piece, hemp is one of the most versatile fibers available. Hemp can now be found in books and paper products, bags, pet supplies, face creams and flour and has long outgrown its hippy roots.
Hydroelectric energy - electric energy produced by moving water.
Hydrofluorocarbons - used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry, among others; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2.
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Kilowatt-hours (kWH) - used to measure electricity and natural gas usage.
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Landfill - area where waste is dumped and eventually covered with dirt and topsoil.
Life cycle assessment - methodology developed to assess a product’s full environmental costs, from raw material to final disposal.
Lead - harmful to the environment used in a lot of paints. It’s also toxic to humans.
Light pollution - environmental pollution consisting of the excess of harmful or annoying light.
Low-emission vehicles - cars etc which emit little pollution compared to conventional engines.
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N
Natural - Purely defined, natural means anything found in nature or derived directly from plants, animals or minerals. Natural products do not contain any man-made (synthetic) ingredients. On food, "Natural" or "All Natural" labels are not meaningful because the federal standard is weak. The USDA will allow a product to be labeled "natural" if it is free from artificial ingredients, added coloring and heavy processing. Natural does not mean organic.
Natural dyes - Sometimes known as "organic" dyes, natural dyes come from natural sources. These dyes are different than man-made, synthetic dyes—which, to confuse matters, can also be organic—that often use toxic, non-natural sources and ingredients. Natural dyes typically cost more than synthetic dyes but are generally considered more eco-friendly overall.
Non-renewable resources - Resources that are in limited supply, such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
O
Offsetting - the process of reducing carbon emissions by ‘offsetting’ it. An example is by taking a flight and in compensation paying a company to plant trees to equal the carbon use out.
Oil - fossil fuel used to produce petrol etc and other materials such as plastics.
Organic fabrics and textiles- Plant and animal fibers like cotton, wool, hemp, linen, cashmere, silk, jute, soy and bamboo can be certified organic if they are produced according to organic standards set by the USDA. However, the organic label does not guarantee that the finished fabric or textile product is free of synthetic chemicals, bleaches or heavy dyes. The Organic Trade Association certifies finished textiles and garments in the United States.
Organic meat, dairy, poultry, eggs and other livestock products - Organic animal products come from livestock that are fed organic feed and forage throughout their lives, beginning in at least the last third of gestation before birth. Synthetic hormones, antibiotics, chemicals and genetic engineering are prohibited. The living environment must be stress-free and promote the health and well-being of the animals, as well as prevent the contamination of air, land and water. For a livestock product sold in the United States to be labeled organic, it must meet USDA standards and be certified by third-party accredited inspectors.
Organic produce - Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, lentils, etc. produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides and with farming techniques that protect soil quality, minimize erosion and actively prevent the contamination of air, land and water. For an agricultural product sold in the United States to be labeled organic, it must meet U.S. Department of Agriculture standards and be certified by third-party accredited inspectors.
Ovo-lacto vegetarian- A diet, recipe or product that involves no meat, poultry or seafood, yet may contain eggs, dairy products, honey, gelatin or other animal-derived ingredient. Followers of this diet are often considered vegetarians.
Ozone layer - in the upper atmosphere about 15 miles above sea level it forms a protective layer which shields the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation and occurs naturally.
P
Parabens - are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoo, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.
Pesticide-free - Plants or crops grown without the use of chemical pesticides for controlling weeds, insects, slugs, grubs or rodents. This label is not equivalent to organic and is not verified by an independent or government standard.
Plastic - man-made durable and flexible synthetic-based product. Composed mainly of petroleum.
Plastic bags - not very good for the environment.
Plastic recycling - there are seven different categories of plastics that can be recycled.
Post consumer waste - waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it.
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R
Reclaimed - Materials destined for the garbage dump but were, instead, rescued and refurbished as a new product. The floor of an old bowling alley can be reclaimed and turned into a dining room table, or bricks from a demolished structure can be used to build a fireplace hearth. The use of glass shards in ceramic tiles is another example of the use of reclaimed material.
Recycled - Materials that have been taken from one product and made into a new product. The recycling process generally saves energy and reduces the need to extract additional raw resources from the earth. The most commonly recycled products in the United States include paper, glass, steel and aluminum, all of which can be reincarnated as the products they were recycled from. Plastic is also recyclable, but it goes through a process known as downcycling. When a plastic water bottle is broken down for recycling, the quality of the plastic material is diminished, and it is no longer fit to become another water bottle. Instead, it may become filler for a fleece jacket, carpet fibers or a park bench. Packages with Post-Consumer Recycled Content are made from materials that were recycled instead of being sent to a landfill.
Renewable - Resources that can be replenished quickly after use so that they are not permanently diminished or depleted. Renewable energy sources include the sun (solar power), wind, flowing water and geothermal heat. Renewable material resources include algae, grasses and some fast-growing trees. Substituting renewable resources for nonrenewable resources (e.g., coal, oil, gasoline and other fossil fuels) is the key to sustainability.
Recycle symbol - the chasing arrow symbol used to show that a product or package can be recycled. The three arrows on the symbol represent different components of the recycling process. The top arrow represents the collection of recyclable materials. The second arrow (bottom right) represents the recyclables being processed into recycled products and the third arrow on the bottom left represents when the consumer actually buys a product with recycled content.
Recycling - the process of collecting, sorting, and reprocessing old material into usable raw materials.
Reduce - not using or buying products in the forst place so less waste, less recycling and less reusing.
Renewable resources - Like renewable energy, resources such as wind, sunlight and trees that regenerate.
Reuse - before throwing away or recycling, a product that can be reused until its time to recycle.
S
Scrap fabrics - Using scrap fabrics is considered more eco-friendly than manufacturing new products and is often called "reuse".
Solar energy - energy from the sun.
Solar heating - heat from the sun is absorbed by collectors and transferred by pumps or fans to a storage unit for later use or to the house interior directly. Controls regulating the operation are needed. Or the heat can be transferred to water pumps for hot water.
Soy - The soybean is the food staple of choice for many vegetarians and those with lactose intolerance due to its high protein levels. Soy is useful beyond food, however, and soybean fiber can be used to make everything from baby clothes to sweaters.
Sustainability - Meeting the needs of the present without diminishing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability also means that human practices do not result in the permanent damage, alteration or depletion of the environment, ecosystems, species or natural resources.
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U
"USDA Organic" (label) -Product contains at least 95 percent certified organic ingredients. The remaining 5 percent can be nonorganic or synthetic, as long as they are approved on the national list (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/ListReg.html).
"USDA Made with Organic Ingredients" (label) - Product contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The remaining 30 percent must be approved on the national list.
"USDA 100 Percent Organic" (label) - Product contains only organic ingredients.
V
Vegan lifestyle - A way of living that avoids products containing animal products or byproducts, involved testing on animals or in any way resulted in animal harm. True vegans do not eat products containing meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, gelatin (derived from hooves), whey, honey or refined sugar (often refined using animal bones). Vegans do not buy or use products (such as clothes, accessories, cosmetics or cleaning products) made with leather, wool, cashmere, silk, suede, fur, animal fats (e.g., lanolin) or any other animal-derived ingredient.
Vegan products - Products produced without animal ingredients (meat, fur, leather, bones, etc.), animal byproducts (milk, eggs, wool) or animal testing. In many cases, vegan products contain synthetic components, which may be harmful to the environment. Vegan products such as food, cleaning products, clothing and personal care may be certified by an independent organization, but there are no federal standards set for vegan certification.
Vermicomposting - the process whereby worms feed on slowly decomposing materials (e.g., vegetable scraps) in a controlled environment to produce nutrient-rich soil.
W
Windpower - energy derived from the wind.
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