This is the first in a series of posts defining the various different words, logos and certifications that appear on the things we buy, in the stories we read and on the news we watch and hear…so we can now all sprinkle these words into our daily conversation and sound real smart.
The more I write about green issues the more I run into words which, though I might toss them about freely…I really have no idea what they mean. Some of this seems to be because no one else has a precise definition either. Some of it though, is due to my inability to keep up with the explosion in green vocabulary.
So, I thought I’d take a stab at defining some of the common words that parents may run into watching the news, reading labels or simply listening to cocktail party conversation. Now you too can toss about some of these words with impunity.
1. Bisphenol A (BPA) - A chemical compound found in a many plastics including baby bottles and some drinking-water bottles. It is thought to be an endocrine disrupter. More
2. Carbon footprint – The impact that your activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of “greenhouse gases’ emitted. More
3. Carbon Offset - A way to negate your carbon footprint -
By purchasing an offset, you plant a tree, support a renewable energy project or some other project that will “undo” the impact of your daily activities. More
4. Fair Trade - Fair Trade products are loosely defined as those that are manufactured or raised by companies that practice environmental and social responsibility and pay a fair wage. More
5. FSC-certified: stands for Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. Producers of products bearing this seal have made some attempt to use wood from sustainable forests.
6. Greenwashing – A disparaging term used by environmental activists to describe an action by a company, person or organization that makes them look “greener’ than they really are. Energy companies and Big consumer products companies, get nailed with this term frequently. More
7. Greenhouse Gases - Chemical compounds found in the Earth’s atmosphere that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere.. Some of them occur in nature (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), while others are exclusively human-made (like gases used for aerosols). Too much build-up of greenhouses gases warms the earth too much – like a greenhouse – get it? More
8. Localvore – A relatively new term ( 2005) It refers to a person who, in trying to reduce their carbon footprint and live responsibly ( and healthily) eats only food grown locally and in season.
9. Low-VOC: This is a paint term usually and refers to a low incidence of Volatile Organic Chemicals in the products. Paint is already regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency to make sure that it doesn’t emit too many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to smog and poor air quality both inside and outside the home, but low VOC paint takes that a step further. This is of particular importance in painting children’s rooms because of their smaller body size. More
10. Natural – unfortunately there are not real clear regulations on the use of this term so if you see it on grocery or household products you can probably assume it’s better than products that don’t carry any “healthy” terminology but, read the label to see exactly what the manufacturer means. More
11. Organic – This term usually refers to products made from materials grown using natural fertilizers and no synthetic growth hormones. Again this is a little shaky though Organic food production is legally regulated. Currently, the United States, the European Union, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic. More
12. Phthalates – Found in soft plastic toys, pacifiers and bottle nipples, as well as, cosmetics and a variety of common household products, scientists are concerned that repeated exposure to phthalates can cause developmental delays. More
13. Sustainable: What A philosophical question …sustainable generally means that the making of a product does not use up resources faster than they're replenished. More
More Thursday Thirteen
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