Our Glossary of Sustainability Terms

A Carbon Budget is the maximum amount of greenhouse gases (CO2e) that can be released into the atmosphere whilst limiting…

The term ‘carbon footprint’ refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere as a…

Carbon intensity is the amount of carbon (in the form of CO2 emissions) that is emitted per unit of energy…

Carbon reduction refers to strategies and actions taken to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced…

Cradle-to-gate refers to the assessment of a product’s environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials (the ‘cradle’) to its…

Cradle to Grave is a key principle of sustainability when considering the entire lifecycle of a product, from its creation…

Global warming refers to the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are crucial in shaping our planet’s climate. Their effects are pervasive and complex, impacting ecosystems and human…

Greenhushing, is where businesses understate or deliberately keep quiet about their environmental efforts.

Greenwashing refers to the practice of companies misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or how the…

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an international body that provides analysis of scientific information about climate change.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997.

Offsetting is a method used by businesses and individuals to compensate for their carbon emissions by funding an equivalent carbon…

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate…

Scope 1 emissions refer to all direct emissions from the activities of an organisation or under its control.

Scope 2 emissions refer to the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to the generation of electricity, heating and…

Scope 3 emissions refer to all indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain.

The WEEE directive is European legislation aiming to reduce the amount of waste from electrical and electronic equipment.

Wind power uses air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity.