Whether you’ve been invested in living sustainably for years or you’re just starting out, it’s likely that you’ve come across a word or two that you’ve never seen or don’t quite understand when discussing sustainability. You may have heard the terms “carbon footprint” or “fracking” mentioned in a few conversations here and there, but what do they really mean?
This is a list of essential terms that are frequently used when discussing and describing different parts of the sustainability industry. The world of sustainability is complex; there are many scientific definitions and references for everything that’s happening to our planet. These words can help you figure out which products to buy, what green initiatives to support and help you have generally better conversations with others about the importance of sustainability.
- Carbon Footprint
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An estimate of how much carbon has been produced by the activities of a sole individual or group. Contributing factors include the direct and indirect use of fossil fuels primarily from transportation, housing, and food.
- Composting
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The controlled decomposition of organic matter that produces a nutrient-rich soil conditioner essential to plant growth. This transforms food waste that would traditionally be thrown into a landfill with other waste into a beneficial product. This process reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and helps suppress plant diseases naturally due to its nutrient-dense nature.
- Fair Trade
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A business partnership designed to help producers in developing countries receive a substantial living wage in exchange for their products, which are grown in safe working conditions and without the use of pesticides or other traditional farming chemicals. These communities also receive financial investments to improve social programs such as education and environmental conditions. Purchasing products labelled “Fair Trade Certified” is an easy way to support and uplift impoverished communities and sustainable product production.
- Fracking
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Drilling technique used to fracture the Earth’s bedrock and inject liquid at a high pressure to extract oil or gas. This process releases methane, one of the leading greenhouses gases that contribute the progression of climate temperatures.
- Global Warming
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The gradual increase of temperature in the Earth’s atmosphere caused by the increased emissions of greenhouse gases by human activities.
- Green Consumerism
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The consumption of products that have undergone an eco-friendly production cycle and safeguards the planet’s resources through restorative processes like recycling. This is both good and bad, as an influx in demand still increases the emission of greenhouse gases during production and transportation, diminishing any environmental gains.
- Greenhouse Effect
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Build-up of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere trapped by greenhouse gases.
- Greenhouses Gases
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Gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation in the atmosphere, essentially keeping heat trapped and continuously contributing to the greenhouse effect. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide and water vapor. They are all created on a daily basis by driving a car, throwing food waste into landfills and using fossil fuels to power difference services like electricity and heat.
- Green New Deal
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United States legislation created to tackle the threat of climate change and address economic inequality through a series of steps that would switch the country’s primary energy source from fossil fuels to clean energy, creating jobs in the process.
- Greenwashing
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Deceptive marketing strategy where a company or organization markets themselves as environmentally friendly despite not making any efforts to minimize their environmental impact. Brands, especially those in the fashion industry, do this to be trendy and appeal to those interested in sustainability. Examples include H&M, Lululemon and Uniqlo.
- Life Cycle Assessment
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Analysis technique used to measure the environmental impact of a product or service throughout all stages of production.
- Phantom Load
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Refers to the electricity being used by an appliance or electrical device despite being on “off” mode. Over a year, this can add up to 20% of a home’s electricity use. Unplugging devices not only prevents the waste of electricity, but can also save a reasonable amount of money.
- Renewable Energy
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Energy that is collected from natural sources that are replenishable like water, wind, sunlight and geothermal heat. Also referred to as “Clean Energy.”
- Triple Bottom Line
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An accounting framework founded on the belief that companies should base their performance off of three components: financial, environmental and social. This emphasizes the importance of social and environmental concerns in the business industry, promoting more sustainable business practices.
- Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect
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Refers to the higher temperature experienced by urbanized areas due to increased carbon-emitting human activities and the radiation-trapping nature of metropolitan architecture (i.e. skyscrapers, metal, glass, dark surfaces like pavement).