Glossary

  • Alternative Energy

    Energy derived from sources other than commonly available fossil based energy sources such as coal and oil. Alternative energy sources include Solar, Methane and Wind.

  • Biodegradable Plastics

    Biodegradable plastics are made from renewable raw materials such as vegetable oils and corn starch, or from petrochemicals containing additives which enhance their biodegradation. They are considered more eco-friendly because they can break down within 3-6 months, or within one year, where as traditional plastics can take thousands of years to decompose. However this rapid rate of degradation only occurs when composted in a commercial grade composter.

  • Biodegradable Waste

    is a type of waste which can be broken down, in a matter of weeks or few months, into its base compounds by micro-organisms and other living things, regardless of what those compounds may be.

  • BPA

    BPA stands for Bisphenol A. It is an organic (carbon based) synthetic (man made) compound that is mainly used in combination with other chemicals to manufacture plastics and resins. Plastics made from BPA are used to manufacture many consumer products such as water bottles, food containers, and electronic equipment. Many countries have banned the use of BPA based products specially those used for consuming food such as baby bottles. This is because BPA can leach into food items, and has been linked to a variety of health issues.

  • Carbon Credit

    A Carbon Credit is a permit under international emission trading norms, which allows a country or organization to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions. Each Carbon credit is equal to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent gases. Carbon credits can also be traded by those who have extra credits (for taking measures that reduce Carbon emissions), with companies who have a Carbon deficit.

  • Carbon Footprint

    Is a measure of the impact an individual or organization has on the environment, in terms of the amount of green house gases (such as Carbon Dioxide) that they emit. An evaluation of Carbon Footprint is done by assessing different aspects of their direct consumption such as Water and Energy, and indirect upstream impact, such as the Carbon emissions of packaged goods they may consume, or the mode of transport they choose for their holidays.

  • Carbon Neutral

    Carbon Neutral means achieving net zero Carbon emissions by balancing the amount of Carbon Dioxide released into the atmosphere with an equal amount of Carbon offsets. For example, an individual may Compost at home to reduce their Carbon footprint, or a business may plant trees in different places to offset the pollution from its manufacturing plant.

  • Carbon Offset

    A Carbon Offset is a reduction in Carbon Dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.

  • Carcinogenic

    Carcinogenics are substances or agents that have the potential to cause or aggravate Cancer. Carcinogenic substances enter a body through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin. Examples of Carcinogens  include tobacco products, pesticides, arsenic, and radionuclides.

  • Chemical Free Gardening

    Is the practice of growing plants without the use of any synthetic or chemical means of pest control, or fertilization.

  • Climate Change

    Is a change in global or regional climate patterns caused by an increase in atmospheric temperature levels.

  • Compost

    Is an Organic fertilizer. It is made of decomposed organic matter, such as kitchen waste and other dry waste (paper, leaves, grass trimmings) produced in homes.

  • Composting

    Is the process of naturally breaking down organic matter such as kitchen and garden waste to produce a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.

  • DEET

    DEET (Chemical name: N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide or diethyltoluamide) is the most active ingredient used in insect repellents. It is commonly used to repel insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. It is designed to be applied on skin, and the smell is intended to keep insects away.

  • Deforestation

    Is the the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year forests that are roughly the size of Panama or the State of Assam in India, are lost to deforestation. Deforestation is one of the leading causes of climate change.

  • Dry Waste

    Refers to wood, metals, glass, and plastic and related products. Examples include tin cans, glass bottles, plastic bags, cardboard, paper plates, bulbs, milk cartons etc. Also see Wet Waste.

  • E-cycling

    Is the process of recycling electronic equipment and components instead of disposing them as waste.

  • E-waste

    Or Electronic Waste is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded electrical appliances, components, and gadgets including mobile phones, computers, televisions, and batteries.

  • Eco-Friendly

    Stands for ecology or environment friendly, and is used to refer to a way of living, or to define products and services that help safeguard the environment. Anything that is eco-friendly either protects the environment from further damage, or helps improve environmental conditions such as improving the quality of water and air,  and conserving natural resources.

  • Ecologist

    An ecologist is a professional who studies the interrelationships between organisms and their environments.

  • Ecology

    Ecology is the study of relationships between a group of living organisms and their environment, including the physical space they occupy and other organisms around them.

  • Ecosystem

    An ecosystem is a community of all the living organisms in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their environments.

  • Environment

    The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species. Climate, weather, and natural resources that affect human survival and economic activity.

  • Fair Trade

    Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional trade that helps producers and workers, especially in developing countries, by offering them better trading conditions and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

  • Fossil Fuel

    Fuel that was formed in the earth in prehistoric times from remains of living-cell organisms. These are oil, coal, natural gas or their by-products.

  • Global Warming

    Global Warming is the rise in Earth’s average temperature, which has mainly been caused by the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

  • Greenhouse Effect

    The Greenhouse Effect is a term used to describe the natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which warm the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth further.

  • Greenhouse Gases

    Gases that trap heat into the earth’s atmosphere are called Greenhouse Gases. Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide are the three most common Greenhouse gases emitted by us everyday.

  • Landfills

    Landfills are garbage dumping sites used for the disposal of solid waste by burying it under layers of soil. However, in many places landfills end up merely stockpiling tonnes of garbage out in the open.

  • LED

    A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor diode that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. LED lights are the most eco-friendly option currently available as they consume the least amount of energy, and have a much longer life, of up to 10-15 years.

  • Methane

    Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4 and is the main component of natural gas. Methane is considered to be a powerful greenhouse gas because of its ability to absorb far more heat than carbon dioxide.

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resources are substances such as air, water, soil, timber, and mineral deposits that have been created by nature.

  • Non Renewable Energy

    Non renewable energy that comes from sources that are is limited in quantity and will run out as they are consumed. Most non-renewable energy come from fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

  • Organic Products

    Organic products are made using raw materials produced without the use of chemical additives such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified substances.

  • Ozone

    Ozone is a colorless toxic gas comprising of three oxygen atoms (O3), which is found naturally in the Earth’s stratosphere.

  • Ozone Depletion

    Ozone depletion refers to the reduction in the amount of Ozone in the stratosphere caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halogenated Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). Ozone depletion allows large amounts of ultraviolet rays to reach Earth, which can be harmful to living organisms.

  • Ozone Layer

    The Ozone layer is a part of the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. It contains high concentrations of the Ozone gas.

  • Parabens

    Parabens are a class of chemical preservatives that are used in a wide range of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and foods to prevent bacterial growth.

  • Plastic Recycling

    Plastic recycling is the process of converting scrap or waste plastic into useful products. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a common form of recycled plastic.

  • Preservatives

    Preservatives are substances that are added to food, beverages, pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetics, and many other products to prevent their decomposition.

  • Rainwater Harvesting

    Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting and storing rainwater in natural reservoirs or tanks for reuse, rather than allowing the water to drain or get wasted.

  • Recycling

    Recyling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable objects.

  • Renewable Energy

    Renewable energy is energy obtained from natural resources which can be replenished, such as power generated from the Sun, Wind, or Water.

  • Sustainable Fashion

    Sustainable Fashion is environment-friendly clothing or fashion design, with the goal of minimizing the impact on the environment. Sustainable Fashion includes the use of eco-friendly, sturdy fabrics, and the adoption of Slow Fashion by people, to reduce the impact of Fast Fashion trends which create tremendous amounts of waste.

  • Synthetic Fertilizers

    Synthetic fertilizers are artificially produced inorganic compounds that contain one or more of the primary nutrients necessary for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

  • Toxins

    Toxins are poisonous substances that are capable of causing disease on contact with or absorption by body tissues. Different types of toxins include naturally occurring compounds such as lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and cadmium; and man-made chemicals like pesticides and bisphenol A (BPA) that is used in the production of plastics. Toxins harm our health by disrupting sensitive biological systems and can also cause Cancer, organ failure, or developmental problems.

  • Triclosan

    Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent added to consumer products such as cosmetics and detergents to kill microorganisms or inhibit their growth. Research shows that the widespread use of Triclosan can lead to the emergence of harmful bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

  • Upcycling

    Is the process of reusing objects or materials in a way that creates a product of higher quality or value than the original.

  • Waste Management

    Waste management involves the collection, transportation, and disposal of garbage, sewage and other waste materials.

  • Wet Waste

    refers to organic waste such as leftover food, peels and scrapings from fruits and vegetables, leaves, garden trimmings, tea leaves, coffee powder, and pencil shavings.