Here’s exactly what we mean when we speak “green.”
Words are what we use to communicate with each other. But unless we all define words the same way, there’s a big potential for miscommunication – where person B thinks person A is saying something quite different than what person A actually means. The vocabulary of sustainability tends to be even fuzzier since much of the lingo is rather new. So that we all understand what we mean when we’re talking about preserving the planet, True Textiles offers the following condensed glossary of sustainability terms.
A
Antimicrobial Preservative
A natural or synthetically derived chemical additive incorporated into or onto product surfaces to prevent microbial growth, odors and stains.
B
Bio-based Product
A product (other than food or feed) that is produced from renewable agricultural (plant, animal and marine) or forestry materials.
Biodegradable
Capable of decomposing in nature within a reasonably short period of time.
Biological Contaminants
Agents derived from living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can exacerbate many types of health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity diseases and infectious diseases. Also referred to as “microbiologicals” or “microbials.”
Biomass
Wood-based materials, agricultural crops, landfill gas, animal and other organic waste. When used as an energy source, biomass is considered to be a source of renewable energy.
Biomimicry
The study of nature and imitation of nature’s forms. The process of learning from and then emulating life’s genius.
Building Related Illness (BRI)
Diagnosable illness with symptoms that can be identified and with a cause that can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g. Legionnaire’s Disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis).
C
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless gas, formed naturally by decomposition, combustion, breathing, etc. CO2 contributes to global warming.
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
Class of volatile, non-reactive, non-corrosive, non-flammable and easily liquefied gases, typically used in refrigeration and believed to be responsible for the deterioration of the stratospheric ozone.
Cradle-to-Cradle
A term used to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new or similar product at the end of its intended life.
Cradle-to-Grave
A term used to describe a material or product that is disposed (landfill, incineration, etc) of at the end of its intended life.
D
Design for the Environment (DfE)
A concept or philosophy applied to the design process that advocates the reduction of environmental and human health impacts through materials selection and design strategies.
Downcycling
The process of recycling in such a way that new products are of lesser economic value. An example would be turning nylon face fiber into park benches.
E
Ecological Footprint
The resulting impacts on the environment based on the choices we make (i.e., raw materials selection, energy selection, transportation, etc).
Ecosystem
The interaction of organisms from the natural community with one another and their environment to sustain one another.
Embodied Energy
Is a combination of the energy required for the process to make a product and the molecular energy inherent in the product’s material content.
Emission
The release of any gas, particle or vapor into the environment.
Environmental Cost
The monetary impact from the negative environmental effects resulting from the choices we make.
Environmental Movement Systems (EMS)
Series of activities to monitor and manage the environmental impacts of manufacturing activities. (Example: ISO 14001)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
An independent executive agency of the federal government, established in 1970, responsible for the formulation and enforcement of regulations governing the release of pollutants, to protect public health and the environment.
Environmentally Friendly
A generic statement often used to designate a product or process that has a reduced ecological footprint when compared to other products/processes.
Environmentally Preferable
Products, services or systems that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products, services or systems that serve the same purpose.
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Fluorocarbon
Nonflammable, heat-stable hydrocarbon liquid or gas, in which some or all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms. As with CFC’s, fluorocarbons, traditionally used as propellants (spray cans), are classified as ozone-depleting substances.
Fly Ash
Fine, noncombustible particulate primarily resulting from the combustion of coal in furnaces and kilns. Often used as a filler material in concrete to displace virgin raw materials.
Fossil Fuel
Any petroleum-based fuel source (gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, etc).
Fungi
Typically filamentous, eukaryotic, nonchlorophyllic microorganisms. Fungi grow on dead or dying organic matter and may also grow on some building materials where excess moisture is present. Fungi can cause pungent odors, unsightly stains, and premature biodeterioration of interior furnishings.
G
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
This is the impact of greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to the ‘greenhouse effect.’ Elevated concentrations of greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and increased climate variability. Also referred to as Climate Change.
Green Tag
A green tag, or Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), represents the environmental attributes created when electricity is generated using renewable resources instead of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. RECs can be sold separately from their associated electricity and enable
customers to ‘green’ the electricity they consume from their retail power supplier(s).
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases trap heat inside the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), etc.
I
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Acceptable IAQ is air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authoritiesand with which a substantial majority (80 percent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.
Industrial Ecology
An approach to the design of industrial products and processes that evaluates such activities through the dual perspectives of product competitiveness and environmental interactions.
L
LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
A series of building rating products developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a standard for what constitutes a “green building” or “high performance” building.
The various LEED products are used as design guidelines and third-party certification
tools, aiming to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings used to establish and innovative practices, standards and technologies.
The collection of LEED products includes LEED New Construction (NC) for newly constructed buildings, LEED Commercial Interiors (CI) for tenant build-outs, LEED Existing Buildings (EB) for existing building operations and for re-certification of already certified buildings, and LEED Core and Shell (CS). An effort is also underway to develop LEED for Homes.
Life Cycle Assessment
A compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product or system throughout its life cycle.
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Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
A compilation of information required under the OSHA hazard communication standard, including a listing of hazardous chemicals, health and physical hazards, exposure limits and handling precautions.
N
Nonrenewable Energy
Sources of energy that cannot be replaced in a reasonable period of time. Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) are examples of nonrenewable energy sources.
O
Offsets
Greenhouse gas reduction activities undertaken to compensate for emissions elsewhere.
P
Particulate
Fine solid particles of dust, spore, pollen, dander, skin flakes, mite allergens, cell debris, mold, mildew, mineral fibers or solids escaping from combustion processes that are small enough to become suspended in the air, and in some cases, small enough to be inhaled.
Photovoltaic Cells
Solid-state devices (typically made from silicon) that directly convert sunlight to electricity.
Post-consumer Recycled Content
Material that has been recovered after its intended use as consumer product. Examples include reclaimed carpet tiles (for new tile backing).
Pre-consumer Recycled Content
Material that has been recovered from the manufacturing waste stream before it has served its intended purpose.
R
Recyclable
A designation for products or materials that are capable of being recovered from, or otherwise diverted from waste streams for recycling.
Recycled Content
Refers to the percentage of the total weight of recycled materials in a product.
Recycling
The series of activities, including collection, separation, and processing, by which materials are recovered from the waste stream for use as raw materials in the manufacture of new products.
Recycling (Closed Loop Recycling)
The process of recycling in such a way that the components of the original product are reclaimed or utilized into similar products without the process of downcycling.
Renewable Energy
Energy derived from sources that are regenerative or recurring. Examples include wind energy, hydro, geothermal, or wave action.
Renewable Resources
A resource that can be replenished at a rate equal to, or greater than its rate of depletion. Examples of renewable resources include corn (for PLA products), trees, soy-based products, etc.
Repurposing
Allows a flooring product to be cleaned or refurbished and then reused in its current form, thereby extending its useful life. Interface currently repurposes carpet by offering it to nonprofit organizations.
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Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
A term used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. Symptoms typically appear upon entering the building and disappear upon leaving the building in affected occupants. These buildings are also often defined as “problem buildings.”
U
Upcycling
The process of recycling in such a way that new products are of higher economic value. Example: using waste PET (plastic from soda bottles) to create Terratex® fabric.
V
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Compounds that evaporate from many housekeeping, maintenance and building products made with organic chemicals. These compounds may be released from the products both in use, and in storage. In sufficient quantities, VOCs can cause irritation and some are carcinogenic and are suspected of causing or exacerbating acute and chronic diseases. The health effects of VOCs at levels found typically in commercial indoor environments are still not completely known and continue to be a point for further study.
W
Waste-to-Energy
Burning of waste to generate steam, heat or electricity.
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