The DE Sustainability Encyclopedia
Azo Dyes – type of direct dye, meaning that they color the fibers "directly", which eliminates the need for a mordant. Azo dyes are one of the main types of dye used by the textile industry and are known to be potential carcinogens (that are particularly harmful to the skin, and children). They were first regulated in the EU by Germany and the list is commonly called the "German banned dye list" (but the list is really small compared to the amount of azo dyes still used).
Biocide – can be defined as a chemical compound or biological product used to kill, control the growth of, or repel a specific organism.
Carbon Footprint – the measure of carbon emissions
Commercial Grade / Contract Grade – CGI (Commercial Grade Item) is item of quality to be used for commercial purposes
Cement – What is it made out of? Cement vs Concrete?
To make concrete a mixture of portland cement (10-15%) and water (15-20%) make a paste. This paste is then mixed with aggregates (65-75%) such as sand and gravel, or crushed stone. As the cement and water mix, they harden and bind the aggregates into an impenetrable rock-like mass.
Cement is made of 8 main ingredients:
Lime 60-65%
Silica 17-25%
Alumina 3-8%
Magnesia 1-3%
Sulfur Trioxide 1-3%
Alkaline 0-1%
Iron Oxide 0.5-0.6%
Calcium Sulfate 0.1-0.5%
How is cement made? – in depth
Climate Neutral Now Initiative
The Climate Neutral Now Initiative encourages and supports organizations and other interested stakeholders to act now in order to achieve a climate neutral world by 2050 as enshrined in the Paris Agreement. The initiative is NOT a certification scheme for its participants. It is a tool to promote additional voluntary action on climate, and to provide recognition for it. Claims of carbon neutrality, net zero or similar are out of the scope of Climate Neutral Now, even when participation in the initiative can help stakeholders advance in their path to achieve those certifications through suitable standards and processes.
Cradle to Cradle Certification
Science-based multi-category standard that meets these criteria:
Material Health – ensuring materials are safe for humans and environment
Product Circularity – enabling a circular economy though product and process design
Clean Air & Climate Protection – generating clean energy and protecting environment
Water & Soil Stewardship – safeguarding air, water and soil resources
Social Fairness – embracing safe, fair and equitable labor practices that advance human rights and strong communities
CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
Declare Certification
Eco-Friendly – not harmful to the environment
EN ISO 14001 Certified – Environmental Management System
Embodied Carbon – refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials.
ESG – Environmental, Social, and Governance
Non-financial factors investors use in their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities.
EPDS – Environmental Product Declaration
FSC® certified – Forest Stewardship Council
GOTS certified – Global Organic Textile Standard
Greenguard Certification
GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified
GWP – Global Warming Potential, quantified in kilograms of CO2 equivalent (kg CO2e) = CARBON FOOTPRINT! kg CO2e per m2
IAQ – Indoor Air Quality
IWTO (International Wool Textile Organization)
LCA – Life Cycle Assessment, method scientists use to track greenhouse gas emissions and their potential effects on climate change over the full life cycle of a product or process
LEED Standards – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards developed by the US Green Building Council
The goal of LEED is to create better buildings that:
Reduce contribution to global climate change
Enhance individual human health
Protect and restore water resources
Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services
Promote sustainable and regenerative material cycles
Enhance community quality of life
Low VOC – Low Volatile Organic Compounds
PEFCTM certified – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
PET – polyethylene terephthalate
PET is 100% recyclable. In fact, PET plastic is the most commonly recycled plastic in the world. PET plastic is widely accepted for recycling programs, because it can be easily washed and melted down for uses in lower grade products, or hydrolyzed down to monomers, which are purified and re-polymerized to make new food-grade PET. (used in bottles!)
Renewable – (of a natural resource or source of energy) not depleted when used
Science-based targets provide a clearly-defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and future-proof business growth.
Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse (GHG) emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization (e.g., emissions associated with fuel combustion in
boilers, furnaces, vehicles).
Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Although scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where they are generated, they are accounted for in an organization’s GHG inventory because they are a result of the organization’s energy use.
Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain. Scope 3 emissions include all sources not within an organization’s scope 1 and 2 boundary. The scope 3 emissions for one organization are the scope 1 and 2 emissions of another organization. Scope 3 emissions, also referred to as value chain emissions, often represent the majority of an organization’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Sustainable – capable of being sustained
VOC – volatile organic compounds