Sustainability Glossary
Feeling lost in the sea of sustainability buzzwords?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This glossary is your cheat sheet explaining the key terms you need to know.
Feeling lost in the sea of sustainability buzzwords?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This glossary is your cheat sheet explaining the key terms you need to know.
Methodology used to conduct LCA studies in bulk for all products of a factory. The impacts of the factory are allocated across its product portfolio.
The process of repurposing old buildings or materials for new uses, extending their life and reducing waste.
A manufacturing technique that builds objects layer by layer, reducing waste compared to traditional subtractive methods.
A certification for businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
BREEAM which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology is a globally recognized green building certification. It is used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings. The BREEAM ratings range from Acceptable (In-Use scheme only) to Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding and it is reflected in a series of stars on the BREEAM certificate.
Materials derived from renewable biological resources, such as plants or agricultural waste. They can be made of different origin, different generations.
Materials derived from renewable biological resources. First generation bio-based materials refers to materials produced from food crops, such as corn, sugarcane and vegetable oils.
Materials derived from renewable biological resources. Second generation bio-based materials refers to materials produced from non-food biomass, such as agricultural waste, wood, and dedicated energy crops.
Materials derived from renewable biological resources. Third generation bio-based materials refers to materials produced from algea.
Materials or products capable of being broken down by microorganisms into natural elements, such as water and carbon dioxide.
Biogenic carbon comes from living organisms or recently living organisms. This includes plants, animals, and microorganisms. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) must properly account for the carbon stored and released from biogenic sources
The practice of designing products and systems modeled after biological processes and elements found in nature.
A unit used for emissions of greenhouse gases by considering their Global Warming Potential (GWP) in relation to carbon dioxide.
Technology aimed at mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources, transporting it, and storing it deep underground.
Technology aimed at mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources, and the utilizing that CO2 for various purposes, such as synthetic fuels and chemicals (polymers and plastics).
The total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) produced by an individual, organization, event, or product. Measured in carbon dioxid equivalents (CO2-equivalent).
Achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by balancing emissions with carbon removal or offsetting efforts. The primary focus should always be to first reduce carbon emissions and after that offsetting remaining emissions.
A reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
A circular economy is a model of production and consumption that aims to eliminate waste and pollution by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. This is achieved through practices like sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling. The EU aspires to fully implement a circular economy by 2050.
Circular design strategies concentrate on both the initial material sourcing (cradle) and the product’s end-of-life phase (grave) within its lifecycle. Recycled materials are preferred over primary raw materials. The end-of-life stage is delayed through component repairs and reuse. Ultimately, material recycling is facilitated through take-back initiatives and single-material components, with modular design serving as key measures.
Technologies designed to improve environmental performance while using fewer resources.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. While some shifts are natural, the current, rapid changes are primarily driven by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. This releases greenhouse gases, trapping heat and leading to rising global temperatures, changes in precipitation, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
A recycling process where waste materials are used to create new products of the same type, minimizing resource use and waste generation.
Products or materials that break down into nutrient-rich organic matter under specific composting conditions.
Corporate social responsibility involves a company's commitment to operating in ethical and sustainable ways, taking into account its impact on society and the environment. It involves companies voluntarily integrating environmental, social, and ethical concerns into their operations and interactions with stakeholders. It is closely related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.
The CSRD is a significant piece of European Union legislation that aims to revolutionize sustainability reporting and aims to increase the transparency of companies' sustainability performance, providing stakeholders (investors, consumers, civil society) with reliable and comparable information.
The scope of CSRD is at the moment being reviewed by EU, the so called Omnibus package I, where the proposed changes aims at streamlining and simplifying corporate sustainability reporting requirements.
A life cycle assessment approach that tracks a product's environmental impact from raw material extraction to when the product leaves the manufacturer's gates.
A life cycle assessment approach that tracks a product's environmental impact from raw material extraction to disposal.
A sustainable design framework focused on creating products that can be endlessly cycled in biological or technical systems.
It is a measure of the quantity of a product used to report environmental impacts, especially in cases where the function of the product is not the primary focus of the assessment or when the LCA doesn't cover the entire life cycle (e.g., a cradle-to-gate study). The unit that all inputs, outputs and the results in the study are related to. Examples of declared units include
Dematerialization refers to the process of reducing the amount of physical material used to produce a given good or service. It's about achieving more with less – delivering the same or improved functionality while using fewer raw materials.
It's a digital representation of a real-world object or system that can used to simulate, analyze, and predict the behavior of its physical counterpart, enabling better decision-making.
When materials gets recycled into new products of lower quality or reduced functionality than the original, instead of creating new products of the same type. An example is PET-bottles: Often downcycled into fleece jackets, park benches, or even composite lumber. These products cannot be easily recycled back into new plastic PET-bottles.
It is an European standard based on ISO 14044 and ISO 14025, that provides the product category rules (PCR) for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) of construction products.
In the Netherlands, the Nationale Milieudatabase (NMD, engl: national environmental database) further specifies this standard in its “Bepalingsmethode Milieuprestatie Bouwwerken” (BMB, engl.: Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works), which serves as the basis for ECI/MKI calculations.
The EU Green Deal is a policy package to make the EU carbon neutral by 2050. Immense funds of about 1 trillion euros are available for it. Its promises range from decoupling economic growth from resource use, over nature restoration, to improved public health and well-being.
The European Ecodesign Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC), along with its counterpart, the Energy Labeling Regulation (2017/1369), establishes ecological criteria for designing and enhancing the energy efficiency of the most energy-intensive and greenhouse gas-emitting products across European Union member states.
A management strategy that aims to create more goods and services while reducing environmental impacts and resource use.
It is a voluntary method, indicating a product meets certain environmental standards, helping consumers identify sustainable options, such as EU Eco-Label.
ISO categorizes eco-labels into three types: Type I, Type II, and Type III.
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was proposed in 2022 as part of the EU Green Deal. Preparations are underway for ESPR to supersede the existing EU Ecodesign Directive. Compared to the current Ecodesign Directive, it will pose a wider range of ecodesign criteria for a wider product range and introduce a digital product passport for all regulated products. This regulation is part of the EU Green Deal.
Ecoinvent is the world’s leading LCI database containing over 18,000 unique datasets. These datasets cover a wide array of products, services, and processes, from building materials to food, and from resource extraction to waste management. Ecoinvent is the largest, most consistent, and most transparent database on the market.
The total energy used to extract, process, manufacture, and deliver a product.
A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions, for example the European Emission Trading System, ETS.
Processes and strategies for managing a product after its useful life, including recycling, repurposing, and safe disposal.
Energy efficiency essentially means using less energy to perform the same task or achieve the same result. It's about minimizing energy waste
A label that signifies a product meets strict energy-efficiency guidelinesEnergy Star is a U.S. government-backed program that certifies products for superior energy efficiency and is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI, or in Dutch: Milieukosten indicator) is a single-score indicator expressed in Euro. It unites the LCA results of all impact categories into a single score of environmental costs, representing the environmental externalities of a product or project. It is based on EN15804+A2, and used in the Dutch construction industry to determine the winning bids in public tenders.
LCA results present as impact data in several impact categories. There are about 15 impact categories (depending on the LCIA method), because, for example, climate impacts and water footprints can’t be compared directly (just like apples and pears). Different LCIA methods define different impact categories.
EPD Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are standardized, verified documents that transparently present a product’s impact data. They are based on an LCA, adhere to strict regulations and standards (e.g. product category rules), and are generally valid for five years. An EPD is a Type III Environmental label.
The practice of ensuring that materials and products are obtained responsibly, with consideration for environmental and social impacts.
A policy approach requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products, including post-consumer waste management.
Fair labor practices encompass a set of standards and principles designed to ensure that workers are treated ethically and equitably. These practices aim to create safe, healthy, and respectful work environments.
Fair trade certification is a system that ensures products meet specific social, environmental, and economic standards. It's designed to empower producers, particularly in developing countries, and promote ethical trade practices.
FSC certification, provided by the Forest Stewardship Council, is a globally recognized system that promotes responsible forest management.
The functional unit defines what is being studied and provides a reference to which all data is normalized. It's a quantified description of the performance of a product system for use as a reference unit, it’s defining the service the product provides.The unit that all inputs, outputs and the results in the study are related to. Examples of functional units include
GWP, is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period (usually 100 years), relative to the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). It is a way to compare the "warming power" of different gases. CO2 has a GWP of 1, while other gases like methane have much higher GWPs, meaning they trap significantly more heat than CO2 over the same timeframe.
Companies love to market their products as sustainable. However, claims about the environmental merits of products may not be true, or deceivingly formulated - this is called greenwashing. Greenwashing is harmful to a company’s reputation and potentially has legal consequences. Proper green claims are based on valid and transparent data – such as that obtained from an LCA.
The Green Claims Directive is a proposed European Union law designed to combat "greenwashing." Essentially, it aims to ensure that companies' environmental claims are truthful and substantiated.
Data storage facilities designed to maximize energy efficiency and use renewable energy sources.
A green supply chain focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of all stages of a product's lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing, distribution, and disposal. It's about integrating environmental considerations into every aspect of the supply chain.
The GHG protocol is a globally recognized framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. It provides standards and guidance that are widely used by businesses, governments, and other organizations.
GHG Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cause climate change. Much sustainability reporting focuses on GHGs because climate change could have catastrophic outcomes for humanity.
Misleading marketing practices that falsely portray a product or company as environmentally friendly. Also see Green Claims.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards are internationally agreed documents. The family of ISO 14000 sets standards for many aspects of the measurement, management, and communication of a company’s environmental impacts. The methodology of an LCA is defined in ISO 14040 and further specified in ISO14044; all LCA standards from other organizations build upon ISO14040 & -44.
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS). It provides a framework for organizations to minimize their environmental impact, comply with applicable laws and regulations and continuously improve their environmental performance.
Impact data is the result of an LCA. It entails all emissions of substances into the environment, resource depletion, land- and water-use associated with a product or process. This data is contained in LCI-databases. This data is further transformed into environmental impact category scores, which are another form of impact data and represent the main LCA results.
LCIA database Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases offer crucial secondary impact information for conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). LCI datasets, sourced from these databases, precisely indicate the environmental impacts attributed to a product or process. This facilitates faster execution of LCAs. The most frequently utilized database is Ecoinvent.
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally recognized green building certification. It is developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council.There are different levels of LEED certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Lean manufacturing is a systematic approach to eliminating waste within a manufacturing operation. Its core objective is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste.
LCA Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific methodology used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a product, service, or technology throughout its entire life cycle. ISO 14040 outlines the 4 phases of LCA as:
1. Goal and Scope definition
2. Inventory Analysis
3. Impact Assessment
4. Interpretation of results.
What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)? LCA measures the environmental impact of a product through every phase of its life – from production to waste (or recycling, etc.). But LCA isn’t simple – there are countless factors involved:
A method of calculating the total cost of ownership of a product, including initial purchase, operation, maintenance, and disposal.
Life cycle models (scope), such as Cradle-to-grave, Cradle-to-gate, and Cradle-to-cradle conceptualize which life cycle stages are included in an LCA – they define an LCA’s scope. The five life cycle stages are raw material extraction (cradle), manufacturing, transportation, product use, and end-of-life disposal (grave).
Planning and design strategies aimed at managing stormwater as close to its source as possible to reduce environmental impact.
Material efficiency is a crucial concept in sustainable development, focusing on maximizing the value obtained from materials while minimizing waste. In essence, material efficiency is about optimizing the use of materials throughout their lifecycle, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.
A design approach that creates products with easily replaceable or upgradeable parts to extend product life.
An approach where a product, building, or system gives back more to the environment and society than it takes.
Non-renewable resources are natural resources that cannot be replenished at the same rate at which they are consumed. This means that their supply is finite, and they will eventually run out. Some examples are oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, cupper, aluminium and iron.
Pollution prevention, often referred to as P2, is a proactive approach to environmental protection. It focuses on stopping pollution before it happens, rather than dealing with its consequences afterward.
This is material that's been used by consumers and then recycled. For example, the glass bottle you leave in the recycling bin is used to produce new glass bottles.
This refers to material diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process. It means that manufacturing scrap being reused into a product.
A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) quantifies the GHG emissions associated with a product throughout its life cycle. While all Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standards provide PCF data alongside other impact metrics, there are also specialized PCF standards like ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard, PAS 2050, and the Pathfinder Framework.
A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) quantifies the GHG emissions associated with a product throughout its life cycle. While all Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standards provide PCF data alongside other impact metrics, there are also specialized PCF standards like ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard, PAS 2050, and the Pathfinder Framework.
The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is a LCA guideline established by the European Commission to standardize LCA methodologies across various product categories. It introduces its own LCIA method, known as the environmental footprint (EF) method, and an open-access LCI database. The PEF methodology, including the development of PCRs, is currently underway, and therefore the utilization of PEF is not currently obligatory under any EU legislation.
A business model where customers lease or subscribe to a product instead of owning it, promoting shared use and reduced waste.
Recycled materials are those that have been recovered from waste streams and processed to be used again in new products. This practice is a crucial component of a circular economy and plays a vital role in environmental sustainability.
Using the term "recycled content" on a product, refers to the portion of that product that's made from materials that were previously used and then reprocessed. Using recycled content reduces the need to extract new raw materials, which conserves natural resources and reduces pollution.
Energy sourced from natural processes that are replenished on a human timescale, such as solar, wind, and hydro.
Renewable resources are natural resources that are replenished at a rate comparable to their consumption, meaning they can be used repeatedly without running out. Their use has a lower environmental impact compared to non-renewable resources, as they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants.
A method for companies to set scientifically based targets in line with the Paris agreement. Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The data used in LCA is sometimes uncertain, for example, we need to estimate the amount of material inputs or could use alternative datasets. Sensitivity analysis shows you the effect of data variations on your LCA results. If the data variation changes your LCA results by more than 5%, it’s crucial to get this input data right. If not, an approximation is acceptable.
Shared value is a business concept that emphasizes creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges. It's not just about corporate social responsibility (CSR) or philanthropy, but rather integrating social and environmental considerations into a company's core business strategy.
Smart manufacturing represents a transformative approach to production that leverages advanced technologies to create highly efficient, flexible, and responsive manufacturing systems. It's about integrating digital technologies into every aspect of the manufacturing process.
A social impact assessment (SIA) is a process that evaluates the potential social effects of planned interventions, such as projects, programs, or policies. It aims to understand how these interventions might affect people and communities.
Stakeholder engagement is the process of building and maintaining relationships with individuals, groups, or organizations who can affect or be affected by an organization's activities. It's about actively involving stakeholders in decision-making processes.
Sustainability is a broad concept that essentially revolves around the ability to maintain or support something over the long term. It's about ensuring that our current actions don't compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is often described as having three interconnected pillars:
Environmental Sustainability: This focuses on protecting natural resources and ecosystems, minimizing pollution, and mitigating climate change.
Social Sustainability: This emphasizes equity, social justice, human rights, and the well-being of communities.
Economic Sustainability: This involves creating economic systems that are stable, equitable, and do not deplete natural resources.
A design approach that considers environmental, social, and economic impacts to create long-lasting, resource-efficient products.
Sustainable innovation is essentially about creating new or improved products, services, or processes that generate value while also minimizing negative environmental and social impacts. It's a shift from traditional innovation, which often prioritizes economic gains without fully considering these broader consequences.
Sustainable materials are those that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, from sourcing and manufacturing to use and disposal. They aim to minimize depletion of natural resources, reduce pollution, and contribute to a healthier planet. This can include renewablility, recycled content, low environmental impact, durability and longevity, biodegradability and compostability and non-toxicity.
This is the overall percentage of recovered materials in a product. It includes both pre-consumer and post-consumer materials.
Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm a living organism. In essence, toxicity is a measure of how poisonous or harmful a substance is, and its effects are influenced by a variety of factors, such as dose, route and duration of exposure and chemical structure.
The triple bottom line (TBL) is a business concept that expands the traditional financial bottom line to include social and environmental performance. It's about measuring an organization's success in a more holistic way.
The process of converting waste materials or products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value.
The water footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the total volume of fresh water used to produce the goods and services consumed by individuals, businesses, or communities. It provides a way to understand the extent of water use in relation to consumption.
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