Green Product Lingo

Green Terms and Expressions Defined:

Materials that will degrade as a result of natural bacterial activity; process requires bacteria, heat, moisture and time.

OXO-biodegradable plastics are plastic materials, generally traditional polyolefins, that undergo a 2-step degradation; initially by an oxidative process that is promoted by the inclusion of catalytic additives and subsequently by biodegradation.
Products made from these materials will degrade under conditions of sunlight (UV), heat and/or mechanical stress to complete the cycle of resource utilization and return otherwise intractable plastics to their natural origins in approximately three years in a landfill.

Materials made of organic substances that will degrade under controlled conditions in a commercial
composting facility over a period of 30 days into water, carbon dioxide and humus, and which
leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.

Materials that can be collected separated or recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse in the
manufacturing of another product. This generally prevents the waste of potentially useful material,
reduces the consumption of raw materials and energy.

EcoLogo is North America’s most widely recognized and respected certification of environmental
leadership. By setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories,
EcoLogo helps you identify, trust, buy, and sell environmentally preferable (“green”)
goods and services.

Products or services that reduce the impact on human health and the environment.

A fiber that has served its intended use, having completed its life as a consumer item,
and has been recovered from the solid waste stream.

A mill / manufacturing scrap or printing waste that has been captured during the production process.

Reducing the amount of natural resources used in the design, manufacturing, purchasing,
delivering, or usage of a product.