Green Terms

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Antimicrobial Preservative
A natural or synthetically derived chemical additive incorporated into or onto product surfaces to prevent microbial growth, odors and stains.

Bio-based Product
A product (other than food or feed) that is produced from renewable agricultural (plant, animal and marine) or forestry materials.

Biodegradable
Capable of decomposing in nature within a reasonable short period of time.

Biological Contaminants
Agents derived from living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can exacerbate many types of health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity diseases and infectious disease. Also referred to as “microbiological” or “microbial”.

Biomass
Wood-based materials, agricultural crops, landfill gas, animal and other organic waste. When used as an energy source, biomass is considered to be a source of renewable energy.

Biomimicry
The study of nature and imitation of nature’s forms. The process of learning from and then emulating life’s genius.

Building Related Illness (BRI)
diagnosable illness with symptoms that can be identified and with a cause that can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g. Legionnaire’s Disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless gas, formed naturally by decomposition, combustion, breathing, etc. CO2 contributes to global warming.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
lass of volatile, non-reactive, non-corrosive, nonflammable and easily liquefied gases, typically used in refrigeration and believed to be responsible for the deterioration of the stratospheric ozone.howpieceenterprises.com 704.655.1022

Climate Change
See Global Warming Potential (GWP)"

Closed-loop Recycling
The process of recycling n such a way that the components of the original product are reclaimed or utilized into similar products without the process of downcycling.

“Cradle-to-cradle”
A term used to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new or similar product at the end of its intended life.

“Cradle-to-grave”
A term used to describe a material or product that is disposed (landfill, incineration, etc.) of at the end of its intended life.

Design of the Environment (DfE)
A concept or philosophy applied to the design process that advocates the reduction of environmental and human health impacts through materials selection and design strategies.

Downcycling
The process of recycling in such a way that new products are of lesser economic value. An example would be turning nylon face fiber into park benches.

Ecological Footprint
The resulting impacts on the environment based on the choices we make (i.e., raw materials selection, energy selection, transportation, etc.)

Ecosystem
The interaction of organisms from the natural community with one another and their environment to sustain one another.

Embodied Energy
Is a combination of the energy required for the process to make a product and themolecular energy inherent in the products’ material content.

Emission
The release of any gas, particle or vapor into the environment.

Environmental Cost
The monetary impact form the negative environmental effects resulting form the choices we make. Also see “Ecological Footprint.”

Environmental Movement systems (EMS)
Series of activities to monitor and manage the environmental impacts of manufacturing activities. (Example: ISO 14001)

Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
An independent executive agency of the federal government, established in 1970, responsible for the formulation and enforcement of regulations governing the release of pollutants, to protect public health and the environment.

Environmentally Friendly
A generic statement often used to designate a product or process that has a reduced ecological footprint when compared to other products/processes.

Environmentally Preferable
Products, services or systems that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products, services or systems that serve the same purpose.

Fluorocarbon
Nonflammable, heat-stable hydrocarbon liquid or gas, in which some or all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms. As with CFC’s, fluorocarbons, traditionally used as propellants (spray cans), are classified as ozone-depleting substances.

Fly Ash
Fine, noncombustible particulate primarily resulting form the combustion or coal in furnaces and kilns. Often used as a filler material in concrete to displace virgin raw materials.

Fossil Fuel
Any petroleum-based fuel source (gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, etc.)

Fungi
Typically filamentous, eukaryotic, non-chlorophyllic microorganisms. Fungi grow on dead or dying organic matter and may also grow on some building materials where excess moisture is present. Fungi can cause pungent odors, unsightly stains, and premature biodeterioration or interior furnishings.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)
This in the impact of greenhouse gas emission which contribute to the greenhouse effect. Elevated concentrations of greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and increased climate variability. Also referred to a Climate Change.

Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases trap heat inside the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Gases which contribute to the greenhouse effect. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), etc.

Green Tag
A green tag, or Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), represents the environmental attributes created when electricity is generated using renewable resources instead of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. RECs can be sold separately from their associated electricity and enable customers to ‘green’ the electricity that consume from their retail power supplier(s).

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Acceptable IAQ is air in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80 percent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.

Industrial Ecology
An approach to the design of industrial products and processes that evaluates such activities through the dual perspectives of product competitiveness and environmental interactions.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
A series of building rating products developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a standard for what constitutes a ‘green building” or “high performance” building. the various LEED products are used as design guidelines and third-party certification tools, aiming to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings used to establish and innovative practices, standards and technologies. the collection of LEED products includes LEED New Construction (NC) for newly constructed buildings, LEED commercial Interiors (CI) for tenant build-outs, LEED Existing Building (EB) for existing building operations and for re-certification of already certified buildings, and LEED Core and Shell (CS). An effort is also underway to develop LEED for Homes.

Life Cycle Assessment
A compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product or system throughout its life cycle.

Material Safety Data sheet (MSDS)
A compilation of information required under the OSHA hazard communication standard, including a listing of hazardous chemicals, health and physical hazards, exposure limits and handling precautions.

Nonrenewable Energy
sources of energy that cannot be replaced in a reasonable period of time. Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) are examples of nonrenewable energy sources.

Offsets
Greenhouse gas reduction activities under taken to compensate for emissions elsewhere.

Particulate
Fine sold particles of dust, spore, pollen, dander, skin flakes, mite allergens, cell debris, mold, mildew, mineral fibers, or solids escaping from combustion processes that are small enough to become suspended in the air, and in some cases, small enough to be inhaled.

Photovoltaic Cells
Solid-state devices (typically made from silicon) that directly convert sunlight to electricity.

Post-consumer Recycled Content
Material that has been recovered after its intended use as a consumer product. An example would be reclaimed carpet tiles used for new tile backing.

Recyclable
A designation for products or materials that are capable of being recovered from, or otherwise diverted from waste streams for recycling.

Recycled Content
Refers to the percentage of the total weight of recycled materials in a product.

Recycling
The series of activities, including collection, separation, and processing, by which materials are recovered from the waste stream for use as raw materials in the manufacture of new products.

Renewable Energy
A resource that can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than its rate of depletion. Examples of renewable resources include corn (for PLA products), trees, soy-based products, etc.

Repurposing
Allows a flooring product to be cleaned or refurbished and then reused in its current form, thereby extending its useful life. Interface currently repurposed carpet by offering it to nonprofit organizations.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
A term used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause cam be identified. symptoms typically appear upon entering the building and disappear upon leaving the building in affected occupants. These buildings are also often defined as “problem buildings.”

Sustainability
“Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable - to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (World Commission on Environment and Development, Brundtland Commission, “Our Common Future”) “Leave the worldbetter that your found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm life or the environment, make amends if you do.” (Paul Hawken, The Ecology of Commerce, 1993, p. 139).

Upcycling
The process of recycling in such a way that the new products are of higher economic value. Example: using waste PET (plastic from soda bottles) to create display panels, printable fabrics, and substrates.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Compounds that evaporate from many housekeeping, maintenance and building products make with organic chemicals. These compounds may be released from the products both in use and in storage. In sufficient quantities, VOCs can cause irritation and some are carcinogenic and are suspected of causing or exacerbating acute and chronic diseases. The health effects of VOCs at levels found typically in commercial indoor environments are still not completely know and continue to be a point for further study.

Waste-to-Energy
Burning of waste to generate steam, heat or electricity.