Ever wonder what all the “green” buzzwords mean? Or maybe you need to educate your meeting participants? We found this helpful list and added a few more useful phrases to help you do just that.
Animal-Friendly: Eschewing animal products where harm is done, but respecting the animal’s contribution.
Biodynamic: Taking into account all of the earth’s elements, concerning the land and animals.
Carbon Neutral: Wherein no new carbon emissions are added into the atmosphere. Any carbon added in production, transportation, etc., is accounted for and offset.
Climatarian: (n.) A diet whose primary goal is to reverse climate change. This includes eating locally produced food (to reduce energy spent on transportation), choosing pork and poultry instead of beef and lamb (to limit gas emissions), and using every part of ingredients (apple cores, cheese rinds, etc.) to limit food waste.
Eco-Friendly: Living and practicing a more conscious lifestyle that does as little harm to the environment as possible.
Green: Incremental improvements to the environment; not harmful to the environment.
Green-Washing: Using common buzzwords to create an image of benefit or respect to the environment, though little concrete facts may be offered.
Fair Trade: (a) Noting fair wages for workers, most likely in developing countries, to enable the development of sustainable businesses and improve quality of life. (b) Paying what the item is worth (fair market value).
Flexitarian: a person with a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish.
Source: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/flexitarian
LEED Certified: Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and internationally recognized, LEED Certification is third-party validation that applies to green building projects as a whole. Buildings are awarded points for their positive environmental impact, including energy and water conservation, reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and the reduction of waste sent to landfills.
Natural: (a) This term might mean nothing at all. While the common belief is that “Natural” products do not contain chemicals, pesticides, or other contaminants, there is little regulation of the term. See Green-Washing.
Organic: Foods, fibers, and other crops are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides.
Plant-Based: Also known as Vegan. Signifies an animal-free product, food, or overall lifestyle. Often, said products are also less processed and free of additives, harsh chemicals, and preservatives.
Sustainable: Living harmoniously within nature, not consuming excessive resources, and considering environmental impact.
Upcycled (also Recycled and Repurposed): The reuse or repurposing of an existing item (i.e., giving your old jeans to charity; plastic Coke bottles transformed into fabrics and handbags).
VB6: Consuming a vegan (or vegetarian) diet until 6 PM.
Vegan: An individual who neither eats nor wears any animal product or by-product. In addition to diet, vegans eschew beauty products, shoes, and clothing sourced from any part of an animal.
Vegetarian: This may include many different subsets and interpretations. A 100% vegetarian, however, consumes no animal products or by-products. Individuals may wear leather or other animal-sourced fabrics and use cosmetics that contain animal by-products.
Check out 4 Easy Steps to Plan Green Meetings
Many of these definitions appeared first in My Life in Stellas – The Green Buzzword Glossary
