Glossary of Terms

BIODEGRADABLE: A “biodegradable” product has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment. These products can be solids biodegrading into the soil (also referred to as compostable”, or liquids biodegrading into water.

BIOPLASTICS: Disposable food service products made from vegetable or sugarcane fibers. They are designed to mimic plastic disposables but break down in commercial composting facilities or in nature without leaving any toxic chemicals.

COMPOSTABLE: All natural and organic products or materials that are biodegradable with the help of air, moisture and natural organisms.

ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE: Another way of saying environmentally friendly, sustainable or ecologically responsible. Some environmental certification programs use this terminology to describe green products or appliances.

GREEN: Refers to products, equipment, practices and concepts that promote environmental sustainability.

PLA: Processed corn starch called poly-lactic acid, used to form biodegradable cups and carry-out containers.

POLYSTYRENE: Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited flexibility. It can be cast into molds wiith fine detail. Polystyrene can be transparent or can be made to take on colors. Expanded polystyrene (EPS), is commonly known by the trade name styrofoam.

POST CONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT: Waste content that has been used in the consumer market and then recycled into new products.

RECYCLABLE: Recyclable materials, also called “recyclables”, may originate from a wide range of sources including the home and industry. They include glass, paper, aluminum, asphalt, iron, textiles, and plastics. Biodegradable waste, such as food waste or garden waste, is also recyclable with the assistance of micro-organisms through composting.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES: A resource regenerated by the earth year after year. Renewable products are constructed from sources the planet can regenerate quickly like sugarcane plants, or products that never expire, such as sun or wind.

SUSTAINABLE: A practice, resource or product the earth can repeatedly produce. Also, another way of saying environmentally friendly, green or ecologically responsible.