Term

Definition

Upside (Optimist)

Balancing Act (Cynic)

Source reduction

A change in the design, manufacture or use of materials or products to reduce their toxicity prior to prior to entering the waste stream.

How about 10% less packaging for all goods?

If source reduction works, less energy would be needed to accomplish the production, too.

Sustainable

The ability of something to replenish itself without damaging the ecosystem in which it exists for an unspecified long period of time

Being sustainable is the optimum goal, in creation of goods as well as social structures for humanity.

Almost nothing that humans make can be fully sustainable. Some type of resource is nonreplenishably consumed or byproduct created that compromises a some percentage of full sustainability. Humans are not hunter gatherers anymore.

Synthetic

Virtually any material produced from other than natural materials.

This used to be a positive term to describe the advancement of technology of some kind. Times have changed.

When confined to fabrics or chemistry, very well defined. Otherwise, very confusing.

Triple bottom line

Extending the traditional economic measure of performance based on profitability to include performance on environmental and social issues as well.

A difficult concept to insert into traditional economic metrics, but, clearly a movement toward broader community awareness

A bit of a buzz phrase in some places.

Toxicity

The point at which the introduction of a toxin to a system will begin to damage the system.

Toxicity is dose-dependent. Any substance becomes toxic beyond a certain threshold for a given system or organism. Vaccines are derived from staying below the toxicity threshold, insecticides are derived by going past the toxicity threshold.

Even water introduced at high enough levels can be toxic. The FDA, CDC or any other organization can not determine the toxicity point for every given toxin or potential toxin. Toxic to one is not toxic to all, either.

Virgin product

Typically used to describe products made from 100% synthetic or petroleum derivatives.

Most nylon is virgin material.

You’re never going to see “virgin materials” on the packaging, are you?

Waste stream

Describes the aggregate of wastes that is disposed of by humans.

Whether you’re talking about the water borne wastes (down the sink, etc.) or the carted off waste (in the trash or dumpster), we humans in the U.S. produce 4.5 pounds per person per day. Up 67% per person since 1960.

Over half of the waste stream is collectable for recycling purposes. If everyone recycled 50% of their waste, the prices for goods from recycled materials would plummet and jobs would be created nationwide.

Zero emission

An engine or motor that produces no waste as pollution.

Anything with zero emissions is better than something with emissions.

Any type of “engine” requires resources to be constructed and runs on some form of resources also.