Defining Green

Bertte Nader

FSC-Certified – Forest Stewardship Council certification gives 2 types of Seal of Approval Awards 1) the FSC-Certification is given to responsible forest management after their operations successfully complete audits of forestry pracitces and plans 2) Chain-of-Custody Certification to companies that process, manufacture and/or sell products made of certified wood after audits verify proper accounting of material flows and proper use of the FSC name and logo. Environmentally responsible forest management that ensures the long-term health and productivity of forests for timber production, wildlife habitat, clean air and preventing illegal logging. Cradle to Cradle Certification – The highest international regulatory and industry standard, eco-effective for materials and products. Chemicals, materials and processes for health and recyclability. The measure of achievement in using safe and healthy materials, design for material utilization, such as recycling or composting; use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, efficient use of water, maximum water quality associated with production and instituting strategies for social responsibilty. Rapidly Renewable – Materials and products generally made from agricultural, both fiber or animal that are typically raised or planted and harvested within a 10 year cycle or shorter. Some examples are: bamboo, cotton, wool, linoleum, agrifiber, sunflower seed, wheatboard, cork and strawboard. Regional Materials – Materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered as well as manufactured within 500 miles to reduce environmental impacts resulting from transportation. Recycling – The collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste system reducing the impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials. Sustainable – 1) capable of being maintained at length without interruption, weakening or loss in power or quality. 2) or using a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. 3) resource that is managed carefully without significant negative impact on the environment or its inhabitants to ensure future growth. 4) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological damage. VOC – Volatile Organic Compounds are carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. The compounds vaporize or become a gas at room temperature and become a ground level ozone chemical with negative impact on indoor air quality and contribute to smog and air pollution. Found in paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and carpeting, they can be odorous, irritating and/or harmful. Voc content should not exceed limits established in Green Seal Standard for paints, coatings, sealants and adhesives and should not exceed limits established in Green Label Plus for carpets. Eco Fact about Recycled Glass – When glass is recycled, it is broken into small pieces called cullet. The broken pieces are crushed, sorted, cleaned, and mixed with other raw materials in the glass-making process. When glass is made from scratch, high temperatures are needed to melt all the ingredients. Since cullet melts at a lower temperature, the more of it you add to the process, the less energy required to melt it. Recycling glass is not only energy-efficient; it benefits the environment in other ways. Glass produced from recycled glass instead of raw materials reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. And, recycling glass keeps used bottles and jars out of landfills, thereby decreasing the need for them.

2009-03-30T17:29:08-04:00

green-definitions 3257732

2009-03-30T17:29:08-04:00

204942

Defining Green 2009-09-23T14:44:39-04:00 *FSC-Certified* - Forest Stewardship Council certification gives 2 types of Seal of Approval Awards 1) the *FSC-Certification* is given to responsible forest management after their operations successfully complete audits of forestry pracitces and plans 2) *Chain-of-Custody Certification* to companies that process, manufacture and/or sell products made of certified wood after audits verify proper accounting of material flows and proper use of the FSC name and logo. Environmentally responsible forest management that ensures the long-term health and productivity of forests for timber production, wildlife habitat, clean air and preventing illegal logging. *Cradle to Cradle Certification* - The highest international regulatory and industry standard, eco-effective for materials and products. Chemicals, materials and processes for health and recyclability. The measure of achievement in using safe and healthy materials, design for material utilization, such as recycling or composting; use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, efficient use of water, maximum water quality associated with production and instituting strategies for social responsibilty. *Rapidly Renewable* - Materials and products generally made from agricultural, both fiber or animal that are typically raised or planted and harvested within a 10 year cycle or shorter. Some examples are: bamboo, cotton, wool, linoleum, agrifiber, sunflower seed, wheatboard, cork and strawboard. *Regional Materials* - Materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered as well as manufactured within 500 miles to reduce environmental impacts resulting from transportation. *Recycling* - The collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste system reducing the impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials. *Sustainable* - 1) capable of being maintained at length without interruption, weakening or loss in power or quality. 2) or using a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. 3) resource that is managed carefully without significant negative impact on the environment or its inhabitants to ensure future growth. 4) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological damage. *VOC* - Volatile Organic Compounds are carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. The compounds vaporize or become a gas at room temperature and become a ground level ozone chemical with negative impact on indoor air quality and contribute to smog and air pollution. Found in paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and carpeting, they can be odorous, irritating and/or harmful. Voc content should not exceed limits established in *Green Seal Standard* for paints, coatings, sealants and adhesives and should not exceed limits established in *Green Label Plus* for carpets. *Eco Fact about Recycled Glass* - When glass is recycled, it is broken into small pieces called cullet. The broken pieces are crushed, sorted, cleaned, and mixed with other raw materials in the glass-making process. When glass is made from scratch, high temperatures are needed to melt all the ingredients. Since cullet melts at a lower temperature, the more of it you add to the process, the less energy required to melt it. Recycling glass is not only energy-efficient; it benefits the environment in other ways. Glass produced from recycled glass instead of raw materials reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. And, recycling glass keeps used bottles and jars out of landfills, thereby decreasing the need for them.