The Green Glossary
- Alysia
- Oct 4, 2021
- 6 min read
There’s a lot to learn. But we’re here to help.
It’s fair to say words like ‘sustainable’, ‘eco-friendly’, and ‘renewable’ are tired (feel free to roll your eyes).
But within the world of cleaner, kinder living, there’s no escaping them. And there’s even more to keep a look out for.
Part of the reason why so many sigh at the sound of environmental buzz words is because we don’t know what they mean. What they really mean.
To be honest, ‘eco-friendly’ doesn’t really mean anything, does it?
So, to help everyone out, including myself, let’t break down some of the most common - and not-so common - terms that have started cropping up.
If you're looking for a specific word, click the links below to take you right where you want to be:
General
Eco-friendly
“Products designed to do the least possible damage to the environment” - Cambridge Dictionary
As I said, this term doesn’t really mean anything. Paper could be considered eco-friendly because it’s recyclable, but if the chopping down of trees is not carried out mindfully, it’s ultimately harming the planet.
Usually it is a good sign if a product aims to be eco-friendly, but it could be a red-herring to jump on the sustainable band wagon.
Speaking of…
Sustainable
“Causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time” - Cambridge Dictionary
This word does carry some weight, especially for the manufacturing and delivering of products.
Going back to the paper scenario, in order to deliver paper to a number of customers, you firstly need enough paper.
The manufacturers will have to replace any trees they cut down if they want to call themselves ‘sustainable’. This means considering the rate in which they grow, how long it takes for the tree to become fully grown, and when they can cut them down again to harvest more paper.
With this in mind, it means they can’t simply plant a tree straight after cutting one down. They have to think years ahead, so that when they cut a tree down, they have another fully grown one for the next harvest, and one after that, and one after that, to be sustainable.
If they cut down more trees than they need, or can’t replace them at a regular rate, then it is unsustainable.
This process applies to harvesting or producing any natural material, from cotton for our clothes to the coffee beans in your morning brew.
So if something claims to be sustainable, or even better have a certification to prove it, then it is usually a pretty good sign.
Renewable
“Renewable forms of energy can be produced as quickly as they are used” - Cambridge Dictionary
Similar to ‘sustainable’, renewable tends to refer to energy, like in the definition above. Solar power, for example, is renewable, since the sun shines on average for 12 hours a day, and the energy it provides can last as long or longer than that.
It is essentially maintaining a balance between producing something, and using something. One part of the process doesn’t outweigh the other, meaning less pressure on the planet, and less waste.
The perfect balance.
Vegan
“Not eating, using, or including any animal products” - Cambridge Dictionary
I think we all know what vegan means, but in certain products it can be misleading regarding how environmentally friendly it is.
More often than not, vegan products promote plant power, and are usually completely or almost completely plant-based.
But this isn’t always the case.
For example, a vegan skincare product that uses synthetic beeswax rather than real beeswax may be putting more pressure on the planet by producing a a man-made version of an ingredient that naturally exists.
Sometimes synthetic ingredients are necessary, particularly for those with allergies or sensitive skin, where natural ingredients can be a minefield. But vegan products can be misleading if they are not produced sustainably, or contain more synthetic ingredients or materials than ones which are naturally occurring.
So just be mindful when looking at vegan products, and look for the Vegan Certified stamp as a sure sign.
Organic
“Not using artificial chemicals in the growing of plants and animals for food and other products” - Cambridge Dictionary
Organic products are by no means new, but they are not often first choice simply due to their cost. Products that have gone out of their way to remove harmful chemicals, pesticides, and pollution from the manufacturing process tend to be more expensive.
But there is usually a difference in quality (although this depends on the item), and when you do buy an organic product, you are supporting production methods that are kinder your own health and the planet's.
Now that’s worth saving up for, isn’t it?
Bioplastics
“Plastics made from plant materials rather than oil” - Cambridge Dictionary
Becoming evermore popular, packaging made from plants, that feel like plastic. They are a great solution to traditional plastic, but here’s where we need to look closer.
It's not always clear how the plants used for this packaging were grown, where they have come from, or even if the process is sustainable.
These questions, on top of the obvious, what happens when we throw them away, prove there’s more than meets the eye with bioplastics, especially as it’s such a new term for consumers.
Bioplastics are recyclable, or can be composted (but only in industrial units - more on that later), but should be avoided in oceans, as they act exactly as their oil-based counterparts do.
Still, they are an improvement from traditional plastic, and a sign that a brand is considering all aspects of their business' footprint.
Biodegradable
“Able to decay naturally and in a way that is not harmful” - Cambridge Dictionary
Biodegradable is the process of an item breaking down over a period of time until it has completely disintegrated.
Essentially, everything is biodegradable, but different objects take longer to biodegrade than others. Apple cores and banana peels take around a month, while a plastic phone case…well I think you know the answer.
Because biodegradable has a fairly vague definition, it could be used to describe any product on the market. So don’t just take this word for the quality of a product, but read into what makes it biodegradable.
Compostable
“Something that is compostable can be used as compost when it decays” - Cambridge Dictionary
Compostable refers to an item that turns into organic waste when it biodegrades. Food waste is the most obvious example, with many households creating their own compost and councils encouraging them to do so.
Many products are now cased in compostable packaging, often made from a bioplastic. But these are only compostable in industrial composting units, which means sending your rubbish to your nearest facility, rather than simply adding it to your garden waste.
While this isn't the simplest of methods, there are products which have been designed and tested to be composted at home.
Skincare
Dermatologically Tested
You may have come across this phrase on many skincare products, but sadly it holds no real value.
It does tell you the product has been tested on human skin, and for the most part caused no harmful reactions to the participant. Often a dermatologist is also present when examining results, but there is no need to reveal all data, or the way in which the test was carried out.
Some companies add value to the phrase by carrying out more thorough tests, and declaring this to their customers, and it’s always a good sign to know the product has been tested before being sold. But this phrase doesn’t necessarily mean it was tested as thoroughly as you would hope.
Hypoallergenic
“Designed to be less likely to cause allergic reactions in people who use a product” - Cambridge Dictionary
The FDA’ (US Food and Drug Administration) explains that a company can use ‘hypoallergenic’ in any way they like, and generally refers to how kind a product is on skin, particularly those with sensitive skin or who are prone to allergeic reactions.
However there are no guidelines, rules or tests required to prove this of a product, making this term fairly weak.
If considered an adjective to simply describe a product, using the word is harmless, but if used in a way that makes consumers believe the product has been vetted, tested and proven to be kind on skin, then it can be misleading.
Clinically Tested
This phrase does hold significantly more value than others, as it means certain variables of a product were tested on participants in a clinical environment, and overseen by a clinical professional.
This means that the test would have to be conducted as a scientific study, with clear data gathered and conclusions drawn. So if a product was “clinically tested to even skin tone”, it means an accurate study was carried out to reveal this.
Non-Toxic
Surely every product should be non-toxic, right?
They should be, but they're not.
Ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde and coal tar in cosmetics products are considered toxic as studies have shown they can cause harmful reactions to our health, and are best avoided.
To make it clear to consumers, many companies now claim they are ‘non-toxic’ to immediately inform them that none of these nasty chemicals are present in their products.
But while it is a good term to look out for, it doesn’t hold any scientific value.
This article will continue to be updated as and when more terms come to light, but if there are any words you would like to see on this list, let us know!
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