packaging sustainability terms
A-Z | Sustainable
AFF
Ancient Forest Friendly papers contain 100 percent recycled fiber or 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) virgin fiber or papers with high recycled content and the remainder of the fiber content being FSC.
Alternative or Tree Free Papers
Paper made from other sources; roasted java, bananas, cotton rags or recovered denim scraps, agricultural fibers, hemp, flax, etc.
Black water
Water containing human waste from toilets and urinals. Typically black water, after neutralization to ensure safe use, is restricted to nonpotable uses such as flushing or irrigation.
Carbon footprint
A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels as part of the everyday life of an individual or the everyday operations of a business.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp)
An energy-saving lightbulb that is a replacement for traditional incandescent bulbs that expend much of their energy in heat rather than light.
Closed-loop recycling
Products of better-grade material made from a recycled source, such as ceiling tiles made from aluminum cans.
Compostable
Material that breaks down to become dirt. It contains no toxic chemicals and can support plant life. Compost piles use a system: green (grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, etc.), brown (dead leaves, straw, hay, wood), air and water.
Corrugated Package Recycling
The Corrugated Packaging Alliance (CPA) created this symbol to show that the marked corrugated material is recyclable, not that it’s been recycled yet. Cardboard is reportedly the largest single source of recovered paper, comprising 54% of all paper recovered for recycling in the U.S.
The Designers Accord
A coalition of designers, educators, researchers, engineers, business consultants, and corporations, who are working together to create positive environmental and social impact. www.designersaccord.org/
Dolphin Safe
Earth Island Institute monitors tuna companies around the world to ensure the tuna is caught by methods that do not harm dolphins and protect the marine ecosystem.
Downcycling
Products of a lower grade that are made from a recycled source, such as carpet pads from tires.
ECF
Elementally Chlorine Free. Chlorine dioxide or chlorine compounds are still used to bleach either recycled or virgin wood pulp. A cleaner process than chlorine gas bleaching, the chlorine compounds can still form dioxins that are toxic to the environment.
Ecological footprint
The area of land and water needed to produce the resources to entirely sustain a human population and absorb its waste products with prevailing technology. Ecological footprints are used as a resource management & community-planning tool.
Eugene Green Energy Standard
The Eugene Standard provides a simple and effective set of criteria to ensure that green energy products are good for the climate and for the environment.
Flat pack
Goods the end-user assembles. The unfinished product takes up less space, so more can be shipped — saving fuel and emissions. (examples are products sold at IKEA)
FSC Certified
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC sets high standards for environmental practices. Products bearing the FSC logo, which guarantees that the wood from a certified well-managed forest, are available across the world from a variety of mills, manufacturers, and distributors.
Glass Recycling
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) developed a 'recyclable' symbol for use on glass packaging that can be recycled. Although most glass containers can be considered recyclable, the symbol encourages the systematic identifying, and reusing, of recyclable materials.
Gray water
Wastewater from showers, kitchens, washers, etc. Gray water does not contain human waste. After purification, gray water is used for nonpotable uses such as flushing and irrigation.
Green Dot
Symbol used on packaging in Europe. Means that the producer of the package has made a contribution towards recycling that packaging.
Greenwashing
When more money and energy are expended on touting eco-friendly practices than making those commitments a reality. When something is touted as green because of an ingredient, component, etc., but overall, it isn't: for example, a cleaning product with a single natural ingredient but also contains toxic chemicals.
Marine Stewardship Council
The MSC's fishery certification program and seafood eco-label recognize and reward sustainable fishing. They are a global organization working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental choice in seafood.
Organic
Generally, organic foods use plants grown without conventional pesticides or artificial fertilizers and processed without food additives; or food products from animals that have not been subjected to routine antibiotics or growth hormones. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic foods must come from farms or ranches certified by a state or private agency that has been accredited by the USDA. Foods labeled "100 percent organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients, excluding water and salt. Foods labeled "organic" must contain, by weight, at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients.
PCF
Processed Chlorine Free are recycled content papers with a minimum of 30% post consumer waste. This emblem states that no chlorine or chlorine compounds were used in the papermaking process, how the mill determined post-consumer content, the mill has no current or pending violations, and that the mill does not use old growth forest for any of the virgin pulp.
PCR or PCW
Post Consumer Recycled or PCW (Post Consumer Waste) refers to paper used for its intended purpose, put into a recycling bin & then recycled into new paper or products.
PEFC
The PEFC Council (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.
Pre-Consumer Waste
Paper or scraps left over from manufacturing. May include unsold magazines & newspapers. This waste has never made the journey to the consumer and back again.
Rainforest Alliance Certified
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-
use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
Recycled Paper 
Papers containing a minimum of 30% post consumer fiber by weight. There is no global consensus on what the term "recycled paper" means except that it may contain post or pre-consumer fiber. Papers that are 50-100% Post Consumer Waste are best.
Recycle Symbols
- Chasing Arrows (mobius loop): means the package can be recycled where appropriate recycling programs exist.
- Chasing Arrows: means that a material or product can be recycled where appropriate recycling programs exist. It does not necessarily contain recycled matter.
- Arrows inside a circle: means the content is made from recycled materials. (Minimum of 30% post consumer waste.)
- Black Circle with Black Arrows: means the product is made from material that has been used before. The more "post-consumer" recycled content the better. If there is no statement next to the symbol (ex. "50% post consumer recycled content") it means the product is 100% recycled.
- Solid Black Circle with White Arrows: means that the product is 100% recycled.
Soy or Vegetable Based Inks
Contains vegetable oils and often replaces petroleum oil, making it lower in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which react with other atmospheric pollutants to form smog. It’s easier to recycle paper printed with soy-based inks.
Sustainable Packaging
The criteria listed by the Sustainable Package Coalition is packaging which: Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle; Meets market criteria for performance and cost; Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy; Maximizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials; Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices; Is made from materials healthy in all probable end of life scenarios; Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy; Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial cradle to cradle cycles. For more info: www.sustainablepackaging.org
Sustainable Packaging Coalition
An organization which provides a forum for supply chain collaboration; Shares best practices & design guidelines; Supports innovation and effective, new technologies; Provides education, resources & tools; Develops criteria for sustainable packaging.
Sustainability
Sustainable initiatives are those that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the future. This idea can be traced back to Theodore Roosevelt who said, "I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us."
TCF
Totally Chlorine Free are virgin fiber papers. They do not use pulp produced with chlorine containing compounds. The mill has no current or pending violations, and does not use old growth forest for any of the virgin pulp. www.chlorinefreeproducts.org
World Wildlife Fund for Nature
an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada.