Green Definitions:
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Biodegradable: |
Biodegradable materials are generally plant-based, animal-based or natural mineral-based products. The European Union deems a material biodegradable if it will break down into mostly water, carbon dioxide and organic matter within six months.
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Fair Trade: |
Fair trade is an organized movement which promotes standards for international labour, environmentalism, and social policy in areas related to production of goods. Fair Trade focuses on exports from developing countries to developed countries. The intent is to work with marginalised producers and workers in order to help them move to security and economic self-sufficiency. Fair Trade also aims at empowering workers to become stakeholders in their own organizations.
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Natural Health: |
Although almost every clothing, bedding, and personal care product listed on EcoSeek can be considered a Natural Health alternative, the products with this tag fit into the following guidelines.
Items that are alternatives to conventional health products
- vitamins
- herbs
- aromatherapy items
- yoga products
Products used to eleviate chemicals in the environment
- water filtration systems
- air filtration systems
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Natural Ingredients: |
Products with the Natural tag should be comprised of a minimum of 70% natural materials as defined by the Natural Ingredient Resource Center which is as follows:
- Natural Ingredients include plant, animal, mineral or microbial ingredients...
- present in or produced by nature.
- produced using minimal physical processing which means the ingredient has had no more processing than something which could be made in a household kitchen, stillroom, on a farm, or vineyard.
- directly extracted using simple methods, simple chemical reactions or resulting from naturally occurring biological processes. Simple Extraction Methods/Simple Chemical Reactions include cleaning, cold pressing, dehydration, desiccation, drying, evaporation, filtering, grinding, infusing [water or natural alcohol], & steam or water distilling.
- Natural ingredients are...
- grown, harvested, raised and processed in an ecological manner.
- not produced synthetically.
- free of all petrochemicals.
- not extracted or processed using petrochemicals.
- not extracted or processed using anything other than natural ingredients as solvents.
- not exposed to irradiation.
- not genetically engineered & do not contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
- Natural ingredients do...
- not contain synthetic ingredients. (Produced by synthesis, a compound made artificially by chemical reactions, from simpler compounds or elements.)
- not contain artificial ingredients including colors or flavoring.
- not contain synthetic chemical preservatives.
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Organic: |
Products with the Organic tag should be comprised of a minimum of 70% organic materials and should be organically certified or processed in accordance with the Organic Trade Association’s definition of organic which is a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. Organically produced foods also must be produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering and other excluded practices, sewage sludge, or irradiation.
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Recycled/Reclaimed: |
Recycled Products are comprised of materials that have been extracted from the garbage or waste.
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Resource Conserving: |
Products with this tag demonstrate an energy savings over traditional alternatives. These items use less resources to perform the same function as the traditional options. Examples are:
- compact florescent lighting
- LED lighting
- low flow showerheads
- solar, wind and alternative fuel products
Products with this tag also conserve resources through reuse such as
- rechargeable batteries
- cloth diapers
- reusable shopping totes
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Sustainable: |
Sustainable processes can be carried out indefinitely with minimal long-term impact on the environment. The following are examples of sustainable systems.
- Closed Loop Manufacturing is a system that collects used products and then reuses or recycles all collected products and components within a closed system.
- Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. This includes organic, biodynamic and wildcrafted methods.
- Sustainable Fishing is the practice of managing fish that are caught or raised in ways that won't deplete stocks and are sensitive to the environment.
- Sustainable forestry practices a land stewardship ethic which integrates the growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees with the conservation of soil, air, and water quality, while protecting wildlife and fish habitats.
Sustainable Materials are constructed from renewable resources and offer a multitude of advantages over conventional textiles.
- bamboo
- beeswax
- coir
- cork
- eucalyptus
- flax
- hemp
- kenaf
- legna
- natural latex
- silk
- soy
- wool
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