A product that is “compostable” is one that can be placed into a composition of decaying biodegradable materials, and eventually turns into a nutrient-rich material. It is almost synonymous with “biodegradable”, except it is limited to solid materials and does not refer to liquids.

The customization and/or personalization of products or services through interaction between a company and the customer. A company is customerized when it is able to establish a dialogue with individual customers and respond by customizing its products, services, and messages on demand.

A strategy for the absolute or relative reduction in the quantity of materials used in delivering product

A design process that allows for the easy recovery of parts and materials when a product is disassembled, recycled or upcycled. The process is intended to maximize economic value and minimize environmental impacts through reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling. The process involves developing the assemblies, components, materials, manufacturing techniques and systems to accomplish this goal.

The term was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication “Changing Course”. It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution. According to the WBCSD definition, eco-efficiency is achieved through the delivery of “competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts of goods and resource intensity throughout the entire life-cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth’s estimated carrying capacity.” This concept describes a vision for the production of economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impacts of production. In other words eco-efficiency means producing more with less.

Refers to the quantity of energy required to manufacture, and supply to the point of use, a product, material or service. Traditionally considered, embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary – from the raw material extraction, to transport, manufacturing, assembly, installation as well as the capital and other costs of a specific material – to produce a service or product and finally its disassembly, deconstruction and/or decompostion.

A commitment to social justice in which employees and farmers are treated and paid fairly, sustainable environmental practices are followed and long-term trade relationships are fostered. A term used to describe a social-responsibility movement demanding that producers receive fair prices for their products; also used to describe products that are made by these producers.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization that brings people together to find solutions that promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests. There are two types of FSC certificates available from certification bodies: Forest Management (FM) Certificate and Chain of Custody (COC) Certificate.

Products that offer functionality across industries, settings, and spaces within a specific product category. This type of flexibility makes products easier to repurpose and reuse over longer periods of time.

An examination, like an audit, of the total impact of a product or service’s manufacturing, use, and disposal in terms of material and energy. This includes an analysis and inventory of all parts, materials, and energy, and their impacts in the manufacturing of a product but usually doesn’t include social impacts.

A design principle that subdivides a system into modules, which can be independently modified, replaced, or exchanged with other modules or between different systems. This ability to modify, reconfigure or exchange components can be used as a sustainability strategy to extend the useful life of a product or system or provide a mechanism for easier and less impactful maintenance.

The act of consuming goods to satisfy needs in a manner which incentivizes economic, scientific and cultural progress towards reducing or eliminating the impact of the consumed goods.

Natural resources (materials and services) that can be replaced by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than the rate of consumption by humans. Resources such as solar radiation, tides, and winds are perpetual resources that are in no danger of being used in excess of their long-term availability.

Is the reintroduction of manufacturing scrap (such as trimmings from production, defective products etc.) back into the manufacturing process. Pre-consumer waste is commonly used in manufacturing industries, and is often not considered recycling in the traditional sense.

Products designed with a single or very limited number of materials that can be easily and cleanly disassembled into the individual materials from which it was made from. These are environmentally preferable for the disassembly and recycling process.

An initiative organized by a manufacturer or retailer, to collect used products or materials from consumers and reintroduce them to the original processing and manufacturing cycle. A company may implement this program in collaboration with end-of-life logistics and material processing firms.

Are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. A wide range of carbon-based molecules, such as aldehydes, ketones, and other light hydrocarbons are VOCs. VOCs are sometimes accidentally released into the environment, where they can damage soil and groundwater. Vapors of VOCs escaping into the air contribute to air pollution. Many VOCs found around the house, such as paint strippers and wood preservatives, contribute to sick building syndrome because of their high vapor pressure. VOC’s are often used in paint, carpet backing, plastics, and cosmetics. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found concentrations of VOCs in indoor air to be 2 to 5 times greater than in outdoor air. During certain activities indoor levels of VOCs may reach 1,000 times that of the outside air. Not all organic compounds are volatile; many plastics (polymers) and other large molecules may not have significant vapor pressure at normal temperatures.