Environmental buzzwords P to R

The next page from the holistic interior designs Glossary looks at environmental buzzwords from P to R. Look through the list below to find descriptions of eco jargon.

Environmental buzzwords P

Pollution
Particles in water, air or earth which have a negative affect on human health and the environment.

Pollution Prevention
Methods to help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere through man-made human activities. Relating to the use of energy, production processes, transportation etc.

Post-Consumer
A product or material which has been recycled or reused after its original purpose has completed. An example would be PET plastic bottles which have been recycled into new plastic bottles. The label may say “made with 95% post-consumer waste”.

Pre-Consumer
A product or material which has been recycled or reused before it has become a consumer product. An example would be collected PET plastic bottle waste from a factory floor which is put back into the production process to be used to make new plastic bottles.

Product Take-Back
A manufacturer who considers their products once they reach the end of their lifecycle; disposal, reuse, recyclable and sustainability. An example from Germany is the extra cost charged on glass bottles, which is then refunded when you return the bottle to the shop for recycling with the manufacturer.

Environmental buzzwords Q

Environmental buzzwords R

Recyclable
A material, product or piece of packaging which can be recycled when the end of its lifecycle has been reached. An example would be aluminium cans which can be broken down into their pure form to be made into new aluminium cans.

Recycle Symbol
A symbol used on labels which shows that the materials, product or piece of packaging can be recycled if there is a suitable recycling service in the local area. The symbol is made up of three chasing arrows.

Recycled
A material, product or piece of packaging which has been remanufactured into a new material, product or piece of packaging.

Recycled Content
The total amount described in percent of recycled and reused materials used in the manufacture of a new material, product or piece of packaging. This includes both pre and post consumer use of waste.

Recycling Centre
A place where you can take your recycling to be processed e.g. glass, tin, paper, card, plastic bottles etc.

Recycling
A human activity which involves sorting and taking old products and materials such as glass, plastic, paper etc to be recycled rather than throwing them away as waste, which would increase the volume in landfill sites.

Renewable Materials
Natural raw materials such as timber and grasses, which can be grown or restored over time. Care must be given in the plantation management so that replanting and felling are in harmony.

Renewable Energy / Technology
Using natural resources such as water, wind and sun for an ever lasting energy source. Resources which have a much lower negative effect on the environment and do not produce greenhouse gases.

Remanufacture
When a product reaches the end of its lifecycle, it can be manufactured for a second time using the parts which remain functional. An example of this is printer cartridges which can be refilled once empty.

Repurpose
A product or material which is used for another purpose once its original purpose has completed.

Reuse
A product or material which is used again and again for the same purpose, such as milk bottles.

Go back to the Eco Glossary main page


Return from Environmental buzzwords to the homepage