Aerobic – requiring oxygen, Ex. aerobic biodegradation is a type of biodegradation that requires oxygen in order to properly breakdown an organic material

Anaerobic – relating to energy processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.

ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials, an organization of scientists and engineers that develop specifications for product categories and standardized test methods

ASTM 6400D – specification of ASTM that refers to the compostability of a material

Biodegradable plastic – plastic that is broken down or consumed by biological organisms

Biodegradation – process that involves the breakdown of an organic material by living organisms

Bioplastic – type of plastic that is manufactured from plant-based renewable resources

BPI – Biodegradable Products Institute, organization that promotes the use and composting of biodegradable materials

Carbon Dioxide – known greenhouse gas that exists in the Earth’s atmosphere

Carbon Footprint – ‘size’ of the impact a person, product or company has on the environment, specifically measured by the amount of carbon dioxide emitted, measured by weight

Carbon Offset – credit that allows a person or company to counterbalance their carbon dioxide emissions through supporting another source that reduces emissions

Compostable – ability of a material to be biologically broken down into compost

Composting – aerobic decomposition and breakdown of organic material to create compost

Downcycle – process of recycling a product into a new product of lesser quality or value

Ecological footprint – ‘size’ of the impact a person, product or company has on the environment, generally measured in terms of GHGs, waste, and energy consumption

Environmental Choice Program – program that recognizes environmental leaders and helps consumers identify the most sustainable products on the market, created by Environment Canada

Extrusion ­– process of creating typically long objects with a set cross-sectional profile

FSC – Forest Stewardship Council, organization that promotes and certifies responsible forestry practices

GHG – greenhouse gas, these include: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone

Greenwash – using disinformation and inflated statements to appear environmentally responsible, usually done with the intention of deliberately misleading consumers

HDPE – high-density polyethylene

Industrial Compost – commercial composting facility that manages the decomposition of select materials, which must usually fully decompose over a 90-day period, typically municipal publicly owned operations

LDPE – low-density polyethylene

Life Cycle Assessment – analysis of a product’s impact from the sourcing of raw materials, to distribution and use, to the final waste or completion

Cradle to Cradle – life cycle of a product that is capable of being reconverted into raw material at the end of its life to be remanufactured

Cradle to Grave – life cycle of a product that ultimately becomes waste

Monocropping – agricultural practice of planting the same crop every year on the same piece of land without rotating crops: a process necessary to avoid both the excessive depletion of nutrients in the soil and the buildup of harmful pathogens

Oxodegradable – degradation of a material through oxidation: exposure to oxygen

PET/PETE – polyethylene terephthalate

Petrochemical ­– chemical product derived from raw materials of petroleum origin

Photodegradable – degradation of a material through exposure to ultra-violet rays

PLA – polylactic acid, a bioplastic commonly derived from cornstarch and sugarcanes

Polyethylene (PE) – synthetic resin derived from fossil fuel, more specifically ethylene

Polystyrene (PS) – synthetic resin derived from fossil fuel, more specifically benzene and ethylene

Recyclable – ability of a material to be reclaimed and remanufactured into another product

Renewable Energy – energy derived from an abundant and regenerating source, including: sunlight, wind, tidal movement and biomass

Renewable Resource – raw material that can be replenished by natural processes at a similar rate that it is consumed

SFI – Sustainable Forestry Initiative, certification program to ensure the responsible management of forests

Sustainability – state or process that can be maintained at a specific level indefinitely, according to UN Brundtland Commission it is something that, “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Sustainable Packaging Coalition – group dedicated to promoting the responsible and sustainable design of packaging materials

Upcycle – process of recycling a product into a new product with the same (or greater) quality or value