Green Label Glossary


carbon footprint - The measure of the amount of CO2 emitted over the full life cycle of a product
compostable - Capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site in that the material is not visually distinguishable and breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with known compostable materials
Environmentally Benign Adhesive - Those adhesives certified by the USPS that can be easily treated and removed during paper recycling process
Forest Stewardship Council - Non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests. The FSC ensures that forestry is practiced in an environmentally friendly, responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.
Non-wood or Tree Free Fiber - Paper fibers derived from sources other than trees. Examples are bamboo, hemp, kenaf, textiles, wild grasses, and agricultural byproducts (sugar cane husks, straw left in the field after harvesting of the main crop)
PLA (Polylactic Acid) - A biodegradable polymer (film) made from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from fermenting the sugar dextrose, which is found in many different agricultural crops, but the renewable resource corn is the main source.
Post Consumer Waste - A material (paper) that has served its intended use that has been recycled into new paper.
Post Industrial Fiber - Materials that have not yet met their intended use by the consumer (converting scrap, coating waste, magazines and newspapers that were not purchased)
Processed Chlorine Free - Typically refers to recycled papers. No chlorine or chlorine derivatives were used in the recycling process. Papers that were originally bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives could have been used as feedstock.
Recycle - Minimizing waste generation by recovering and reprocessing usable products that might otherwise become waste (i.e. recycling of aluminum cans, paper, and bottles, etc.).
Recyclable - Product that can be converted back into moaterial that can be used in the manufacturing of new goods.
Recycling Compatible Adhesives/Repulpable Adhesives - An adhesive that does not persist as "stickies" in a paper recycling process, but which can be removed from the process water using conventional equipment found in a paper recycling mill
Renewable Resource - A resource that can be used continuously without being depleted. The resource regenerates itself at the same rate as it is consumed
Sustainability - Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative - The SFI program is based on the idea that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist. SFI members practice sustainable forestry on all the lands they manage.
Wood Free Paper - Papers made from chemical wood-based vs. mechanical pulping. It doesn not indicate that the paper was manufactured using non-wood or tree-free products.