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| GLOSSARY OF TERMS |
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Plastics manufactured from renewable resources such as natural sugars or starch extracted from potato, wheat, corn or tapioca. An additional environmental benefit is the fact that they are biodegradable under certain conditions. Mechanical properties vary depending on the specific polymer, however bioplastics are already in use in the packaging, automotive and consumer electronic sectors. |
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The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly to support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of either carbon or carbon dioxide. Cradle to Cradle Design William McDonough and Michael Braungarts' (MBDC) design paradigm,
based on principles and an understanding of the pursuit of value,
as well as MBDC's processes for product and material research and
development, and for educating and training. At a fundamental level,
the new paradigm proposes that human design can learn from nature
to be effective, safe, enriching, and delightful. Cradle to Cradle
Design models human industry on nature's processes, in which materials
are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. |
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Designed to be easy to disassemble (with minimal, basic tools) at end of life, for repair, remanufacture or recycling. Design for Durability (DfD) Designed to last longer thus avoiding multiple products being used for a particular task over time, resulting in less overall environmental impact. Design for Environment (DfE) or EcoDesign A way of designing products with a view to eliminating or minimising environmental, social and human health impacts across the entire product life cycle from materials extraction and processing through to production, distribution, operation and end-of-life. Underpinned by a life cycle approach to impact identification and reduction. Focus on 'locking-in' positive environmental features (eg. renewable and postconsumer recycled materials), and 'locking-out' negative environmental features (eg. hazardous and toxic substances, premature obsolescence). See also SPD. Design for Recycling (DfR) Designed to maximise recycling; easy to disassemble, materials are easily separated, labelled and commonly recycled. Dematerialisation This term generally refers to a reduction in materials intensity
in situations where products nonetheless remain essential. It can
refer to production-side initiatives such as light-weighting or
use of recovered materials, or more radically, products designed
for closed-loop take-back and components or materials reuse. But
increasingly it is used to refer to user-side product-service mixes,
that is, services designed to enhance the operational life or number
of lives of a product, and/or the number of uses or users of products.
These are often called Product Services and Systems (PSS). |
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The central strategy in the cradle-to-cradle development method and seeks to create industrial systems that emulate healthy natural systems. The central principle of eco-effectiveness is that “waste equals food.” The concept was developed in response to some of the perceived limitations of eco-efficiency which critics claim only slow down the rate of environmental depletion and don’t reverse the production of unused or non-recycled waste. Ecolabelling A voluntary method of environmental performance certification and
labelling that is practised around the world. An ecolabel is a label
which identifies overall environmental preference of a product or
service within a specific product/ service category based on life
cycle considerations. The International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) has identified three broad types of voluntary labels, with
ecolabelling fitting under the Type I designation. Embodied Energy An indication of the amount of energy used in production and distribution of a material or product; the cost in energy to produce. The total energy stored in a product or material and includes the energy in the raw materials, transport and that consumed in manufacture. Eco-Design Handbook by Alastair Faud-Luke, Thames & Hudson 2002. Environmental Management System (EMS) An environmental management system (EMS) is a systematic approach
to dealing with the environmental aspects of an organization. It
is a 'tool' that enables an organization of any size or type to
control the impact of its activities, products or services on the
natural environment. The ISO 14001 standard "Environmental management
systems--Specification with guidance for use" is the standard within
the ISO 14000 series that specifies the requirements of an environmental
management system. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Designed to reduce the amount of waste from consumer goods and its
impact on the environment. It involves producers taking more responsibility
for managing the environmental impact of their products throughout
their life. Producers can play a role beyond the point of sale or
warranty by, for example, designing products that produce less waste,
use fewer resources, and contain more recycled and less toxic components.
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A substance which has the potential to harm the health or safety
of humans. Types of substances which may be hazardous include solvents,
pesticides, paints, adhesives, petroleum products, heavy metals
and other industrial chemicals. Heavy Metals Metallic elements mainly of high atomic weight, generally toxic to
plant and animal life in low concentrations. These elements are
often present in the environment in trace concentrations and exhibit
biological accumulation. Examples include mercury, cadmium, arsenic
and lead, which are toxic to humans in any form or quantity. |
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A process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a
product, process, or activity by identifying energy and materials
used and wastes released to the environment, and to evaluate and
implement opportunities to affect environmental improvements. Life Cycle Thinking The concept of life cycle thinking integrates existing consumption
and production strategies, preventing a piece-meal approach. Life
cycle approaches avoid problem shifting from one life cycle stage
to another, from one geographic area to another and from one environmental
medium to another. Human needs should be met by providing functions
of products and services, such as food, shelter and mobility, through
optimised consumption and production systems that are contained
within the capacity of the ecosystem. Light weighting Reducing the weight of a product so as to have less environmental impact in production and distribution. Less material used and less weight to transport. |
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The labelling of materials in a product so as to assist in sorting
for recycling. Words, letters, numbers, symbols or a combination
can be used to designate composition of components of a product
or packaging. Note: a material identification symbol does not indicate
whether an item can be recycled. |
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Goods or materials discarded after use by consumer. When collected for recycling it needs to be identified and separated to avoid contamination during recycling. Post Industrial Waste Waste from industrial processes, usually a known material low in contamination and in the case of plastics reground and reused on site. Product Service System (PSS) A Product Service System (PSS) can be defined as: 'a marketable set
of products and services capable of jointly fulfilling a user's
need'. PSS-s will offer powerful concepts towards the marketplace
and can contribute to sustainable growth. Basic idea is that a company's
commercial value creation goes beyond the spreading of material
goods. PSS is about function fulfilment of the needs of clients.
Product Stewardship Producers and brand owners proactively managing the environmental impacts throughout the life-cycle of their products in partnership with other stakeholders eg. suppliers, consumers, government. Playing a greater roll in keeping their products out of the waste stream. See EPR and SPR. |
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Proportion of recycled material in a blend, component or product; typically sourced from materials recovered from end-of-life products and components as opposed to the use of 100 per cent virgin materials. See Post Consumer and Post Industrial Waste. |
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Shared Product Responsibility (SPR) A variation on EPR and Product Stewardship i.e. seeks to expand the
assignment of responsibility for waste management of packaging and
spent consumer goods beyond the producer and consumer to include
all participants along the life cycle of a product including designers
and manufacturers, as well as consumers and governments. Sustainability A dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential
and to improve their quality of life in ways that simultaneously
protect and enhance the Earth's life support systems. Sustainable Consumption Sustainable resource use. A change to society's historical patterns
of consumption and behaviour that enables consumers to satisfy their
needs with better performing products or services that use fewer
resources, cause less pollution and contribute to social progress
worldwide. Sustainable Product Design (SPD) A design philosophy and practice in which products contribute to
social and economic well being, have negligible impacts on the environment
and can be produced from a sustainable resource base. Sustainable Production The creation of goods and services using processes and systems that
are non-polluting; conserving of energy and natural resources; economically
viable; safe and healthful for employees, communities, and consumers;
and socially and creatively rewarding for all working people. |
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A toxic substance can be defined as one with an inherent ability
to cause systemic damage to living organisms. Toxic substances occur
in the air, the soil, the water and in other living things, and
they can enter the body in various ways. |
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Also referred to as the Waste Minimisation Hierarchy or Waste Hierarchy. An environment protection principle which states that wastes should be managed in accordance with the following order of preference: |
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| BEST PRACTICE PLASTICS |
Located in Sydney's pristine northern beaches Best Practice Plastics is an industry leader in sourcing and molding sustainable plastics. |
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