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14 Sustainability Terms You Need to Know
Learn the jargon so you can participate in the change
Special Events
October 24, 2024
1 Min Read
It can be hard to talk to stakeholders and suppliers about sustainability when the terms are confusing or poorly defined. Here is a handy primer explaining 14 of the most common sustainability terms to help you have more productive conversations in the future.
Biodegradable refers to substances or objects that can be broken down by bacteria or other living organisms. Be careful with this term because it doesn’t always mean the product is good for the environment. A biodegradable product can produce harmful materials as it breaks down. For example, some biodegradable plastics produce methane as they decompose in landfills—and it’s a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon.
Compostable refers to organic material that can be placed in compost for rapid breakdown. Some materials require hot composting to destroy harmful pathogens (usually animal products).
Carbon neutral is when carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are fully reduced and offset. This typically means only CO2 is neutralized, not other greenhouse gases.
Downstream solutions are responses to a problem after it has occurred. They focus on treating effects rather than causes. Examples of downstream solutions are recycling, waste management, and reuse of materials. (See “upstream solutions.”)
Emissions are gases produced as a by-product of a chemical reaction. These can be naturally occurring, like methane from cattle, or man-made, from the burning of fossil fuels, for example.
