So, you want to do your part to make your businesses greener, but you’re not sure where to start. There seem to be so many buzzwords, acronyms and other terms to learn, and it can be hard to keep up. Pollock Orora offers green solutions to businesses, so we can help you learn about some of the most important “green” terminology. Here are ten terms you should know: 

Sustainability

Let’s start with the basics: what is sustainability? Sustainability, in this context, is the practice of consuming and producing responsibly to create a world in which humans and nature can coexist. On a business level, this can be done by cutting back on the amount of products needed to keep the business running. 

Carbon Footprint

One of the most common terms you’ll hear around sustainability is “carbon footprint.” Simply put, a carbon footprint is how much carbon dioxide an individual or organization releases into the atmosphere over the course of their lifetime. Some of the top contributors to carbon footprints are electricity, agriculture and transportation. 

Zero Waste

While zero waste may not be attainable for most people and businesses, it is a great goal to have in terms of sustainability. In essence, zero waste means creating absolutely no waste. The closer you are to zero waste, the more sustainable your business will be. 

Degradable

Degradable simply means that a product can decompose naturally with the help of bacteria or other living organisms. Biodegradable means that products can break down completely into substances found in nature. Photodegradable means that a product can be broken down using UV light.  

Source Reduction

Industrial products are often created in ways that harm the environment. Source reduction is strategically reducing the amount of materials, especially hazardous ones, used to create a product. 

Stewardship

You may have heard the term “stewardship” used in the context of religion, and the environmental definition is similar. It means responsibly managing and caring for the environment.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Chances are, if you own a business, you’re at least somewhat familiar with LEED. This is a green building certification system that uses third-party verification that a building or neighborhood meets certain criteria for sustainability. One of the main factors is its use of EPP (Environmentally Preferable Products).

SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) 

As a company that moves a lot of paper and packaging materials, Pollock Orora is no stranger to SFI. This certification system promotes long-term forest health and the responsible use and management of forests. We always buy SFI-certified products when possible. 

Now that you know some of the most common “green” terminology, you’re ready to bring your business into the modern age of sustainability. Need some help getting started with green solutions? Give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.