SUSTAINABILITY JARGON BUSTER
With sustainability becoming the blueprint for the future, knowing the meaning behind the terms used is vital.
This jargon buster or glossary of words contains the definitions of some of the terms commonly used in sustainability. It is not a complete list of all the words you might come across, but it will help clarify the meaning of some of the words and phrases.
Understand what it means to be Net Zero or a B Corp, to engage Intersectional Environmentalism and Climate-Risk Assessments, and to incorporate Water Stewardship and Green Buildings into everyday life, by clicking on the letters below:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
B
B Corp
A new form of business - as a force for good. Uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. From “best in the world” to “best for the world” - try to do both.
Building and Energy management systems (BMS)
Building and Energy Management Systems and technologies to control mechanical and electrical equipment onsite/offices from data driven insight, including estate-wide monitoring of energy performance; using BMS telemetry to understand how it uses energy; and measures the impact of interventions, such as refurbishments and extensions on energy reduction projects.
C
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide or other gaseous carbon compounds released into the atmosphere, associated with climate change, also defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to, directly and indirectly, support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
Not-for-profit global disclosure system for environmental impacts for investors, companies, cities, states and regions - covers climate, water, forests.
Carbon Footprint
An estimate of how much carbon dioxide is produced to support your lifestyle. Measures your impact on the climate based on how much carbon dioxide you produce. Factors that contribute to your carbon footprint include your travel methods and general home energy usage. Carbon footprints can also be applied on a larger scale; to companies, businesses and even countries.
Carbon Insetting
A new term of Carbon Insetting is a form of offsetting which occurs within a company's value chain. Where reducing carbon emissions will begin to be incorporated into internal carbon saving developments, such as sustainable/green buildings and employee engagement.
Carbon Literacy
Informs stakeholders the equivalent CO2 impact of materials, products, operations, processes, production at points or throughout the supply chain and life cycle of a product, made relevant to help educate audience, effectively interpret and spread impact awareness. For example, rigid cardboard boxes used to send cans to supermarkets bare a higher carbon footprint than plastic shrink-wrap (Toast Ale); 38 tonnes of carbon is the equivalent to an average sized semi-detached house. Carbon calculating tools are also methods to develop carbon literacy and to measure collective and individual carbon footprints/impacts.
Carbon Negative
Carbon negative means the same thing as “climate positive.” Means that an activity goes beyond achieving Net Zero carbon emissions to actually create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Carbon Neutral
The reduction of emissions to the minimum unavoidable amount or to reach Net Zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal (offsets) or simply eliminating carbon emissions altogether..
Carbon Offsets
This is a way of counteracting the carbon dioxide emitted when the use of fossil fuel causes greenhouse gas emissions. Offsets commonly involve investing in projects such as renewable energy, tree planting and energy efficient projects.
Carbon Positive
Strategy targets to encourage and decrease carbon footprint through positive actions such as tree planting, impact programmes, increasing uptake of sustainably sourced and processed products, and ensuring deforestation-free products and policies.
Champions 12.3
Champions 12.3 is an international group that is dedicated to inspiring ambition, mobilising action and accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3 - to halve food waste and reduce food loss globally by 2030.
Circular Economy
A circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital.
Climate Crisis
“Climate crisis” has become the favoured terminology when referring to climate change, as it more accurately reflects the severity of the dangers posed to the planet by climate change. The climate crisis refers primarily to warming caused by human activities which have led to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, causing extreme weather conditions and climate shifts that affects the environment and people’s livelihoods.
Climate Change
A long-term change in the earth’s climate. It is often used to refer to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature: melting glaciers imply that life in the Arctic is affected by climate change. Climate change refers to the changing temperature of the earth as a result of human activity. Climate change and global warming are often used interchangeably, and there is widespread scientific consensus that human activity directly contributes to the warming of the planet.
Climate Neutral
Products or services that reduce and offset the greenhouse gases generated at each stage of their life cycle on a cradle-to-grave basis: the sourcing of their materials, their manufacturing or production, their distribution, use, and ultimate end-of-life disposition.
Climate Positive
Means that activity goes beyond achieving Net Zero carbon emissions to actually create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon negative means the same thing as “climate positive.”
Climate-Risk Assessment
Conducting and incorporating climate change risks and opportunities into business structure and regular reporting.
Closed Loop
This is the most sustainable economic system, where the inputs used to create a product are the same as its end-of-life outputs. It is a zero waste system that completely reuses, recycles or composts all materials.
Community Projects
Community projects include any projects that give back directly to the community of the location where the event is being hosted. These can consist of one-time volunteer projects or legacy projects, which have a long term impact on the community. Legacy projects can be things such as establishing educational programs, raising money for a local charity or helping to build low-income housing.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Is a company’s commitment to manage the social, environmental and economic effects of its operations responsibly and in line with public expectations. It is part of a company’s approach to corporate governance and often touches every part of the business—operations, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain, health and safety, and more.
Courtauld Commitment
The Courtauld Commitment 2025 brings together organisations across the food system to identify priorities, develop solutions and cut the carbon, water and waste associated with food and drink by at least one-fifth in 10 years.
Cradle-To-Grave
The impact of producing a product, from creation to end use. It refers to a linear flow: ‘take-make-throw away’.
D
Deforestation-Free Soy
Growing focus particularly on the “Future of Food”. The SDG and Paris-aligned strategy contains several sector-leading pledges, including commitments to physically source 100% deforestation-free soy by 2025 and reduce the emissions footprint of products by 11% by 2025. Whereby, sourcing any associated products, such as paper, other food products and production industries, and supporting engagement around deforestation and Net Forest Gain is becoming a new consumer development and demand.
E
Energy Efficient
Using less energy to provide the same level of service.
F
Fair Trade
Fairtrade to raise awareness and funds to empower farmers in (cocoa) commodity-growing communities to lift farmers out of poverty and improve their quality of life. Public campaigns and employee incentives to complete actions that reduce emissions or capture carbon by rewarding them with points for seedlings to be planted in Fairtrade farming areas (predominantly in Africa) by the local farmers. Educating and encouraging consumers Fairtrade and to support Fairtrade by buying products and recognising labels is a start, whilst expanding access, availability and scope of Fairtrade products is the next.
Flexible Household Plastic Packaging
Mixed plastic films from household collections (including single-use carrier bags). This material is typically excluded from rigid plastic packaging collections. It includes a wide range of polymer types used in the packaging of consumer products. Further separation of plastic films is required for many higher grade recycling applications as they are made from a range of polymer types.
Food Ethics
Working with suppliers to better understand the challenges they face in ensuring food provenance, quality and transparency and build upon solutions that could help turn problems into opportunities. Actively collaborating in participating bodies, such as the Food Ethics Council and the Fairtrade Council, and events to improve internal organisational work and to drive wider industry progress.
Fossil Fuel
An organic, energy-rich substance formed from the long-buried remains of prehistoric life.
G
Green Buildings
Applying or achieved building certifications such as BREEAM, LEED, Ska and WELL – green-certified buildings, focusing on greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint with employee wellbeing areas. Also by encouraging colleagues to consider environmental impacts when procuring equipment and within all aspects of the building lifecycle. Developing built-in sustainability features including solar panels, rainwater harvesting system, a rooftop garden and charging points for electric vehicles (EVs), for example.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride - these contain and emit the largest amount of carbon and so have the most damaging impact and need the most focus in carbon emissions reduction.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Widely adopted global standards for sustainability reporting.
Global Warming
A gradual, long-term increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. The term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
H
Household Rigid Plastic Packaging
This covers both mixed plastic bottles and non-bottle rigid plastic packaging.
I
Intersectional Environmentalism
Is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalised communities and the earth are interconnected.
L
Landfill
A landfill site is an area of land that is used to dump rubbish, either directly on the ground (landraising) or filling an unwanted hole in the ground (landfilling). We need landfill sites to dispose of waste that cannot be reused or recycled. New technologies are being developed to reduce the amount of rubbish that is sent to landfill each year, for instance, Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF) and composting.
M
Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Where recyclable materials that are collected from households are sorted into different types (e.g. plastics, cardboard, paper, metal) using a mixture of manual and automated methods.
N
Net Forest Gain/Positive
Internal and external initiatives and programmes to reforest, plant and recover forests and greenlands to restore and reverse effects of deforestation, air pollution, and CO2 emissions.
Net Zero
Refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
Non-Renewable Energy
Crude oil (petroleum), natural gas, coal and uranium (nuclear).
P
PET
Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly abbreviated PET, is a type of resin and a form of polyester; it is commonly labelled with the #1 code on or near the bottom of bottles and other containers. PET has some important characteristics such as its strength, thermo-stability, gas barrier properties and transparency. It is also lightweight, shatter-resistant and recyclable.
Polystyrene
A type of plastic commonly used at events for food service ware and signs. Polystyrene is an environmental concern due to the lack of recycling options at event venues.
R
Re100
This is an international commitment by large scale companies to transition to 100% renewable energy.
Regenerative/Net Positive
Putting more in than you take out.
Renewable Energy
This form of energy comes from natural renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biofuel, biomass, biogas, hydro, tidal and wave power.
Renewable Resources/Materials
Any resources or materials that can be replenished naturally over time such as wood or solar energy.
RPET
RPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate or recycled PET. PET is the most common type of plastic resin. To create virgin PET, producers extract crude oil and natural gas from the Earth, then process and heat it to form a molten liquid. They spin this liquid into fibres to create polyester fabric, or mould and solidify it into PET plastic containers. RPET is produced by collecting, sorting and recycling PET, then refining the material into flakes that can be turned into new products.
S
Science-based Targets
This refers to climate science used to create GHG emissions targets.
Scope 1,2,3
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company’s GHG emissions into three ‘scopes’. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.
Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These items include plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging.
Smart Farming/Agriculture
The development and gathering of farmer data sets; for farm services/business to access and improve its productivity, and calculate its carbon footprint to understand its biggest carbon impact and track progress in shifting the supply chain to a carbon positive trajectory through reduction and offsetting; Scaling programme as preferred impact driven approach to reach sustainability targets. Innovative data methods include using satellite data to calculate the carbon impact of land cleared for agriculture with the aim to make this methodology publicly available and heat maps to provide an overview of areas where sourcing agricultural raw materials has a high risk of deforestation.
Smart Energy
Optimises smart devices by analysing consumer behaviours and real-time market signals including grid supply, weather and pricing data to activate storage systems and chargers.
Soil Health
Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations. To do this, we need to remember that soil contains living organisms that when provided the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, and water - perform functions required to produce food and fibre.
Sustainable Buildings/Architecture
Applying or achieving building certifications such as BREEAM, LEED, Ska and WELL – green-certified buildings, focusing on greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint with employee wellbeing areas. Also by encouraging colleagues to consider environmental impacts when procuring equipment and within all aspects of the building lifecycle. Developing built-in sustainability features including solar panels, rainwater harvesting system, a rooftop garden and charging points for electric vehicles (EVs), for example.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to be met by 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Stakeholder
A stakeholder is any individual or party directly or indirectly impacted by a certain business - investor, board, team members, suppliers, customers, community, government, academia, international organisations, NGOs, associations, Mother Earth and all her creatures and living beings.
Stakeholder Materiality
Stakeholder materiality is the process of identifying the issues that matter most to the business and its stakeholders.
Sustainability
Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (as defined by the Brundtland Commission, 1987).
U
UK Plastics Pact
The UK Plastics Pact is a trailblazing, collaborative initiative that will create a circular economy for plastics. Uniting UK governments, NGOs and businesses, it aims to keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.
UN Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact is a non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation and progress. In return for a commitment, the UN Global Compact provides a universal language and framework for businesses to become more sustainable.
V
Virgin Plastic
Resin that is produced directly from the petrochemical feedstock, such as natural gas or crude oil, which has never been used or processed before.
W
Water-Sensitive Farming
The scheme works with farmers on scaling up water-sensitive farming to restore local land and soil health, and aid agricultural supply chain sustainability. This helps to support farmers in two catchments to improve the way they manage their land and reduce the impacts of production on the freshwater environment. In turn, the improved practices aid the resilience of agricultural supply chains. Committing to water quality and efficiency, and major global goals & targets to water stewardship: to reduce impact on the freshwater environment; be ‘water neutral’, and source main agricultural ingredients sustainably.
Water Stewardship
We define water stewardship as the use of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that includes both site- and catchment-based actions. It remains a critical concept for companies and investors to embrace and implement.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
It is end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and covers virtually everything with a plug or battery. It is classed as either household or non-household WEEE.
Z
Zero Carbon
Zero carbon means the same as carbon neutral: to achieve an overall balance between carbon emitted and carbon removed from the atmosphere.
Zero Waste
Refers to the consumer awareness around plastic waste - and where it ends up when it can’t be recycled - with people aiming to reduce single-use plastics and opt for reusable and recyclable items to contribute to a circular economy.