Bio-based material: A material made from substances derived from living matter. Strictly the definition could include many common materials such as wood and leather, but it typically refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. Bio-based materials are often biodegradable, but this is not always the case. Examples include bioplastics, paints made from plant resins, and Kirei Board; an engineered panel product constructed from the stalks of the Sorghum plant.

Bioaccumulation (bioconcentration): The accumulation of higher and higher concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals in individual organisms. It occurs in the case of chemicals that are ingested but cannot be broken down or excreted. Biomagnification is the bioaccumulation occurring through several levels of a food chain.

Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). Most organic materials, such as food scraps and paper are biodegradable.

Bio - magnification: Similar to bioaccumulation with the distinction being that bioaccumulation occurs within a food chain (trophic level) and bio-magnification is the same process across different trophic levels. (reference)

Bio-diesel: A renewable fuel produced by a chemical reaction of alcohol and vegetable (or animal) oils, fats or greases. Through a refinery process called transesterification, the reaction removes the glycerin, a by-product that can harm the engines. The resulting biodiesel can be used in any normal petrodiesel engine, in pure form or in different blends. (reference)

Biodiversity: Biodiversity embraces the variety of genes, species and ecosystems that constitute life on Earth. We are currently witnessing a steady loss of biodiversity, with profound consequences for the natural world and for human wellbeing. (reference)

Biofuel: This is fuel made by living things that is renewable, in contrast to fossil fuels, which is non-renewable and derived from previously living organisms.

Biomass: the weight of living and dead organic matter in an ecosystem usually measured per unit area over a particular time interval.

Biomimicry: An innovation method that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf. The goal is to create products, processes, and policies that mimic natures systems. This is also a concept found in nature where some species will mimic other species in order to protect themselves. Many insects do this--certain moths with large owl-looking eye spots on their wings. (reference)

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility): The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community, society, and the environment at large.

Carbon Credits: Certificates that represent a reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Projects that prevent the generation of greenhouse gases or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere earn these credits, which can in turn then be "sold" to other businesses and individuals to "offset" the emissions they generate. One carbon credit is the equivalent to a saving of one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2). (reference)

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced that directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). For example, if you burn wood at home it's the total CO2 produced at home, when transporting the wood to your home, and accumulation of CO2 produced during the extraction and production process.

Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but which is left unchanged by the reaction.

Clean Production: a way of designing products and manufacturing processes in harmony with natural ecological cycles. It aims to eliminate toxic wastes and inputs and promotes the sustainable use of renewable energy and materials.

Climate Change: This is a study of the variation in the Earth's climate over a period of time. The changes can be due to the earth itself, forces outside the earth, or as is known more recently, by human (anthropogenic) activity.

Climate Neutral: The process of reducing and offsetting carbon emissions by an entity (human, business, naturally occurring) with activities that reduce, sequester, or offset carbon output sources. Offsetting refers to the process of purchasing carbon credits.

Closed Loop Supply Chain: This is when a supply chain process completely reuses, recycles or composts all material used. A supply chain is the system of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer.

Composting: The activity of breaking down plant and animal material using microorganisms under aerobic conditions. For successful composting there must be sufficient water and air to allow the microorganisms to break down the material, and the compost should reach and maintain a warm temperature.

Cogeneration: The production of electrical and thermal energy simultaneously from the same fuel source. This could be the surplus heat energy from an electrical plant being used to heat water or used as a fuel for any other purpose.

Cradle to Cradle: Term made popular by William McDonough & Michael Braungart that maps out production techniques that are essentially waste free. In cradle to cradle production all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality and biological nutrients composted or consumed.

Downcycle: The practice of recycling a material in such a way that much of its inherent value is lost (for example, recycling plastic into park benches). (reference)

Eco- Labels: These distinguish a product or service in terms of environmental issues. ISO 14021- 14025 sets out four types: Type I labels are product seals based on multiple criteria regarding lifecycle impact. Type II label are informative, self- declaration seals regarding the environmental qualities of a product. Type III labels offer quantified product information based on a life cycle assessment. Type IV labels are single- issue seals licenses by companies or organizations. There are a host of product certifications and eco-labels available. Contact us for more information.

Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, minimizes ecological or other damage, and improves the well being of local people.

Ecological Economics: A study of how the two fields (ecology and economics) interact, despite having always been considered very distinct. There are assumptions that the economy is a subsystem of the Earth's ecological system and how we can learn and benefit from understanding that relationship.

Emissions Trading: The creation of economic incentives to help reduce pollution. A governing body sets a cap on the amount of a pollutant that can be emitted. Companies are given permits and credits to produce a specific amount of the pollutant. If any given company wants to exceed their pollution limit they must buy credits from those who pollute less.

Energy Star: A US government program designed to help consumers make energy efficient and cost effective decisions since 1992. Energy Star endorses hundreds of products through its distinctive blue logo, from refrigerators and DVD's to vending machines and exit signs.

E- Waste: The waste generated from electronic devices ie computers, TV's, and mobile phones. E-waste must be disposed of properly and not sent to landfill.

Fair Trade (Fairtrade): An organized social movement and market- based seeking greater equity in international trade. Helps sustainable development by giving better trading conditions to, and helps secure the rights of, workers and producers (mainly from developing countries).

FloorScore: A program in created by Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), that tests and certifies flooring products in compliance with Californian indoor air quality emission requirements. Flooring products include vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring, wall base, and associated sundries.

Forest Stewardship Council: An international non- profit organization created in 1993, whose mission is "to promote environmentally viable management of the world's forests". Forestry operations that are sustainably certified by the FSC and have their timber tracked through the supply chain can then carry the FCS ecolabel. Thus consumers are better informed and have the choice to buy more sustainable timber products.

Global Warming: A term to define the recent gradual increase in average temperature of the earth's oceans and atmosphere. Scientists believe that this is caused at least in part by the release of green house gases into the atmosphere by human activities.

Green: The common name given to the environmental movement, its products, associations and anything that maybe affiliated with it. The color is based on that of plants and trees.

Green Building: The sustainable sector of the building industry that uses methods to minimize environmental impact and reduce energy consumption of a structure. In turn this benefits the health and productivity of its occupants.

Green Building Initiative: A non- profit that seeks to encourage the building industry and consumers to adopt environmentally sustainable techniques. Green Building Initiative uses the Green Globes online environmental assessment system to rate buildings.

Green Design: The term given to the design of products, services, buildings, experiences or the environment in a manner that promotes economic, social and ecological sustainability.

Green- e: An independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the US retail market. It has three certification programs: Green-e Climate is a voluntary certification program launched in 2007 that sets consumer-protection and environmental standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions sold in the voluntary market. Green-e Energy is an independent certification and verification program for renewable energy. Green-e Marketplace is a program that allows companies to display the Green- e logo when they have purchased a certain amount of renewable energy and their verification standards.

GreenGuard Environmental Institute: An industry independent non- profit organization started in 2002 based in Atlanta, Georgia that manages the GreenGuard certification program. This is an indoor air quality test for low- emitting products. Over 100 manufacturers across various industries offer GreenGuard indoor air quality certified products. In 2006 GEI introduced the GreenGuard for building construction, which is a mold risk reduction program that certifies the design, construction and future operations of new multifamily and commercial properties.

Green House Effect: The tern given to how green house gases in the atmosphere trap heat emitted from the Earth's surface. This creates an insulating and warming effect on the planet. Without this, the Earth's climate would be about 59F cooler.However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have greatly intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming.

Green Marketing: Marketing strategies developed to promote products or services that are environmentally responsible and create as little ecological impact as possible.

Green Seal: An independent, non- profit organization based in Washington DC that promotes the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services. Green Seal has its own certification process and environmental standards that must be achieved before the seal is awarded.

Green Tech: Refers to new technologies that are developed with sustainable principles in mind.

Greenhouse Gas: Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and water vapor. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests.

Green Washing: The actions of an organization that create the image of being sustainable and environmentally responsible, even though these techniques are not actually used, or not to the extent that is advertised.

Industrial Ecology: The development and use of industrial processes that result in products based on simultaneous consideration of product functionality and competitiveness, natural-resource conservation, and environmental preservation. Also known as design for environment, green design

Indoor Air Quality: Measures the content of interior air quality with regard to its effect on the health of building occupants. The quality of indoor air is impacted by many sources of air pollutants as well as by building construction and ventilation.Recent studies have shown that indoor air quality is often poorer than outdoor air quality, which illustrates the need for standards and thorough testing in this area.

Kyoto Protocol: An agreement for industrial nations in 1997 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Kyoto, Japan to reduce green gas emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2012.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System: Green building rating system of the US Green Building Council, a non-profit organization. Certification from LEED is given at four levels: certified, silver, gold, and platinum based on credits earned using the LEED rating system. Currently, the USGBC offers certification using the following rating systems: LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core & Shell.

LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability): A market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice. In 2006, this market segment was estimated at $229 billion.

Life Cycle Analysis: A study of the complete impact of a product or service's manufacturing, use, and disposal in terms of material and energy. The scope of the analysis is comprehensive, although there are few standards to measure and assess these impacts. LCA's are useful to companies that want to display the results of their products or services to consumers, aswell as being able to identify ways to reduce energy used.

Materials Audit: A process to analyze the costs and effects of materials used in manufacturing. The objective of this investigation is to determine more efficient, less costly, less toxic and more sustainable alternatives.

NGO (Non- Governmental Organization): A non-profit organization created neither by businesses or government that often conducts humanitarian and development work around the world.

Natural Capital: Same as environmental capital, which is the stock of natural resources and environmental assets. Includes water, soils, air, flora, fauna, minerals, and other natural resources.

Non- Renewable Resources: These are natural resources that cannot be re-grown or re-generated at a proportion that they are being consumed. Fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are non- renewable resources. Examples of renewable resources are timber, wool, and solar.

Net- Zero Energy Home: A home built with energy efficient practices and technologies that result in an annual contribution to the energy grid that is at least the same as the amount of power used from the grid. Common sources of energy generation are solar panels, wind turbines, geo- thermal heating and cooling systems. Building many of these properties would result in a significant reduction in the need for electricity plants.

Organic: Tern given to the technique of developing food and agricultural products without the use of pesticides, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and other toxic materials. Some countries have adopted a legal definition of 'organic'.

Permaculture: A design system that encompasses both "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture." It recognizes, first, that all living systems are organized around energy flows. It teaches people to analyze existing energy flows (sun, rain, money, human energy) through a system (a garden, a household, a business). When correctly designed such a system will, like a natural ecosystem, become increasingly diverse and self-sustaining.

Pollution: Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade the natural quality of the environment or cause a health hazard. The usefulness of the natural resource is usually impaired by the presence of pollutants and contaminants.

Pollution Prevention: Any practice which reduces the amount of hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering the waste stream or otherwise released to the environment before recycling, treatment, or disposal. This process reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances

Precautionary Principle: The principle that states that when an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.

Pre Consumer Recycled Content: content generated from manufacturing by-products. Examples of pre-consumer recycled content include scraps from manufacturing lines that were collected and used in the making of a new product.

Post Consumer Recycled Content: an end product that has completed its life cycle as a consumer item and would otherwise have been disposed of as solid waste. Examples of post consumer recycled content include bottles and cans that were used, recycled, and converted into a new product.

Recycle: Taking an unwanted material, processing it, and then producing a useful product again. Examples include newspaper made into insulation, auto body steel made into bridge parts, or aluminum cans made into additional aluminum cans.

Recyclable: Material that still has useful physical or chemical properties after serving its original purpose and can, therefore be reused or remanufactured into additional products. Plastic, paper, glass, tin and aluminum cans are examples of recyclable materials.

Reduce: This is simply to reduce the amount of energy and materials that we use on a daily basis. This also has an exponential effect as it further reduces packaging, recycling, transportation, disposal and many other costs. In conclusion, reduction is one of the most sustainable strategies that exists.

Remanufacturing: The dismantling of a spent product to clean and repair the product for the same use. Replacement parts must be new after-market parts that meet the same specifications as the original manufactured parts.

Renewable: Any material able to be sustained or renewed indefinitely, either because of limitless supplies or because of new growth.

Reuse: Reuse is repairing, refurbishing, washing, or recovering worn or used products, packaging appliances, furniture or building materials for internal use. Reusing packaging and products prolongs the useful life of items and delays the final disposal or recycling.

Scientific Certification Systems: A third-party provider of certification, auditing, and testing services.

Stewardship: Taking responsibility and caring for the Earth or any part of it. Includes responsibility in using resources and creating as little waste and pollution as possible.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Third party certification for forest land.

Take- Back: An approach to encourage reuse or recycling where consumers return products back to the company that made them. Some laws mandate take- back programs and create incentives for manufacturers to make their products easily recyclable or reused.

Technical Nutrient: Materials made from highly stable components that can be reused, they are designed to be captured and reused in the closed- loop cycle of sustainable manufacturing. Aluminum is an example of a technical nutrient.

Telecommuting: Instead of commuting to a place of employment, the household member works at home using a personal computer, using the internet and other communication devices. This reduces the use of transport, and hence, energy and pollution.

Toxic: Materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them. The quantities and exposures necessary to cause these effects can vary widely.

Transparency: a requirement that sits alongside 'accountability' as a growing expectation on organizations by society. It involves an openness and willingness to accept public scrutiny that reduces the capacity for an organization to practice or harbor deception or deceit.

Triple Bottom Line: Known as Profit, Planet and People - for companies aiming for sustainability, who have to perform to not just a single financial bottom line, but the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. The effect that sustainable practices cause companies to increase revenues (through more desirable products and services) while reducing costs and expenses, by using more efficient processes.

Upcycle: Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of similar or greater use and value. Aluminum and glass are examples of materials that can be upcycled.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC'S): Organic chemicals containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, and other atoms. Volatile chemicals such as benzene toluene and xylene are suspected carcinogens. In addition, VOC's react with sunlight to create ground level ozone, also known as ground level smog.

Xeriscaping: An environmentally friendly form of landscaping that uses a variety of indigenous and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, and ground cover. This is designed to use a limited amount of water, promoting water conservation.

Waste Reduction: Preventing or decreasing the quantity of waste being generated through waste prevention, recycling, or purchasing recycled and environmentally preferable products.

Water Conservation: Practices that promote the efficient use of water, such as minimizing losses, reducing wasteful use, and protecting availability for future use. This is vital as water is one of our most valuable resources.

Zero Waste: The theory that a society, organization or process can reduce, re-use or recycle all of its waste, thus producing zero waste of no economic value needing final disposal. Many cities and states already have set zero-waste goals. For example, San Francisco and other cities have set a goal to create zero waste by 2020.