60 Sustainability Words
60 Sustainability words you should know: The Essential Guide
Source: Author
Companies and brands are now becoming more sustainable- a big win for the environment! However, it's causing a big confusion among the consumers too.
How? Most sustainability-related words, terms, phrases, and jargon are often just buzzwords!
New eco-friendly words pop up everywhere, all the time, making it difficult to keep up. It can get confusing when you don’t fully know what they mean.
So, we have put together this guide of sustainability words with their simple definitions. No more getting confused over green buzzwords.
It will help you be a more conscious consumer, and you can mindfully invest money in the right products, services, and companies.
If we left out some important words, feel free to contact us to let us know.
1. Alternative energy / Renewable energy
Energy sources other than traditional fossil fuels that can naturally replenish in a finite time. The major types of renewable energy are Biomass, Hydropower, Geothermal, Wind, and Solar.
2. Biodegradation
Breaking down of organic substances by natural organisms under normal environmental state.
3. Bioenergy
A form of renewable energy attained from biomass. For example, the heat produced by burning wood is bioenergy.
4. Blue Economy
An economic concept which means, "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem," according to the World Bank.
5. Carbon credit
A permit granting the right to emit a specific amount of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas.
6. Carbon emission
Specifically referring to carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere naturally and through human activities, contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Carbon Emission
7. Carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) generated by a person or an entity.
8. Carbon negative
The status of removing more carbon dioxide than the amount being produced, or emitting less than zero carbon dioxide and its equivalent greenhouse gases.
9. Carbon Net-Zero
Optimizing the carbon emissions to the lowest level possible, then using carbon offsetting as the last resort to take it to zero.
10. Carbon Neutrality
Using carbon offsetting to remove carbon emissions equivalent to carbon levels produced by an entity, without increasing the initial levels of the entity’s emission in the process.
11. Carbon Offset
A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, or an increment in carbon sequestration, which is typically a compensation for carbon emissions by a person or an entity.
12. Carbon positive or Climate-positive
An alternative term used for “carbon negative” to put a “positive light” on it.
13. Carbon sequestration
The absorption and storing of atmospheric carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases in carbon sinks or pools. It is executed via biological, chemical and physical processes.
14. Carbon sink
A carbon sink or pool is a natural entity, like the ocean, soil, a plant, or a forest, that captures and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits.
Carbon Sink : Ocean
Source: Photo by Pok Rie
15. Circular economy
“A model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.”- European Parliament
16. Climate-friendly
An activity or an entity that does not harm the Earth’s weather or climatic patterns.
17. Closed-loop production
A process of the circular economy of transforming a product after use into a new product or converted back to raw material. It is done indefinitely while sustaining all its properties during recycling.
18. Composting
Naturally recycling organic material to nourish plants and the soil.
19. Conscious capitalism
A capitalist concept with social responsibility and ethics at its foundation.
20. Conscious, Ethical or Green consumerism
A way of shopping that has a positive impact socially, economically, and environmentally.
21. Cruelty-free
A way of creating products without testing them on animals or without harming any animals in the creation process.
22. Decarbonization
The process of reducing carbon emissions by an entity and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
23. Downcycling
Also known as cascading, it refers to the recycling of an item resulting in a product of lower quality and value.
24. Earth-friendly or eco-friendly
Products and practices that help the environment and/or do not harm the Earth.
Eco-friendly practices
Source: Photo by Sarah Chai
25. Eco-conscious
Being aware of the environmental impact caused by each action, and taking an active part in reducing the negative impact as much as possible.
26. Ecolabel
A label that indicates a product’s eco-friendly nature, following a specific set of requirements.
27. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
A beyond-the-profits set of standards for corporates to take responsibility in the environmental, social and governance areas on behalf of the stakeholders.
28. E-waste
Discarded electrical or electronic waste that is to be refurbished, reused, resold, salvage recycled through material recovery, or disposed of.
29. Fair trade
Fair trade is a system aimed to assist farmers/producers in developing nations to establish long-term, sustainable and equitable trading ties. The fair trade movement combines paying exporters higher prices with bettering social and environmental standards.
30. Food miles
The distance travelled by food items between their journey from the farm to your plate, signifying the food items’ carbon footprint.
31. Free-cycling
Giving away unwanted items to someone for free instead of throwing them away.
32. Green
Not being harmful to the environment, similar to eco-friendly.
33. Greenblushing
The act of hiding or only partially sharing one’s sustainability effort out of insecurity.
34. Green-collar work
An employment type for the protection of the environment.
35. Greenwashing
Sharing false information about being environmentally responsible.
36. Locavore
Describes a person who only consumes locally grown food, typically within a 100-mile radius.
37. Low-waste lifestyle
A mindful practice of reducing the waste disposed off in the environment.
38. Microplastics
Pieces of plastics that are no longer than 5 mm (0.2 inches) in the environment as an aftermath of plastic pollution.
39. Naked Packaging
Creating package-free, preservative-free and microplastics-free products as part of an emerging, sustainable business model.
40. Net Positive Impact
Achieving net gains for biodiversity as a result of a business project.
41. Organic
Products that are “clean”, i.e. free of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or any other artificial chemicals.
42. Pre-loved
Another term for “second-hand”, often used for supporting the positive environmental aspects of buying second-hand items.
43. Reclaimed
Products made from recycled items that were earlier used for other purposes.
44. Recycling
Collecting and transforming waste materials into new materials that can be used in some way or another.
Recycling
Source: Photo by Polina Tankilevitch
45. Regenerative
Going beyond sustainability to catalyze regeneration or renewal of the environment and its resources.
46. Renewable resource
A natural resource that replenishes itself as fast as it is consumed.
47. Resource-friendly
The process of using resources needed for a product without harming the resources.
48. Reuse
The act of using an item more than once for its intended purpose or for another purpose.
49. Single-use product
A product that can only be used once as per the intended purpose, then discarded.
50. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A collection of 17 global goals created by the United Nations to be used as a blueprint for the holistic, sustainable growth of humanity and the environment.
51. Sustainability
A practice for sustaining one’s existence without compromising the future generation’s right to avail of all necessary resources.
52. Thrifting
Money management without wastage or buying pre-loved, gently used items from thrift stores, garage sales, or flea markets.
Thrifting
Source: Photo by cottonbro
53. Traceable
An attribute for products and commodities to ensure transparent sustainability in the supply chain and its environmental impact.
54. Triple bottom line
A sustainability framework for measuring business profits in 3 key areas- People, Profit, and the Planet (PPP).
55. Ugly produce
Misshapen, unaesthetic fruits and vegetables that end up in the “reject pile” of markets, contributing to wastage of good food.
Ugly Produce
Source: Author
56. Upcycling
Recycling or reusing an unwanted item or waste material in a way that increases its perceived value.
57. Veganism
A lifestyle that forsakes the exploitation of and cruelty towards animals for food and products for humans.
58. Water footprint
The total volume of water used in producing any goods or services.
59. Zero emissions
An engine, motor, process, or another energy source that generates no waste products that degrade the environment or affect the climate negatively.
60. Zero Waste
A practice that results in no waste ending up in landfills or the environment. A lifestyle that focuses on consuming only required amounts of products, and reducing waste by buying consciously and reducing waste disposal by reusing & recycling the packaging, etc. An active application of- Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Source: Photo by ready made
With people becoming more eco-conscious, brands are making their best efforts to match their consumers’ expectations.
However, sustainability words can only take you so far. Sustainability is a cultivated lifestyle. It starts with awareness, grows with mindfulness, and reaches its peak with consistency.
The EcoFriendly Printer is a green company and an environmental advocate since its conception. We don’t just use sustainability words for greenwashing, we walk the talk. Come join the sustainability movement with us, starting with your printer!
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Author bio:
Hi, I’m Mrudavi. I help sustainability-focused businesses generate high ROI through content marketing strategy and content writing. You can find me on LinkedIn.