Posted by Danielle Downs on Feb.10, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Lilli Day

The ‘green’ revolution quickly became a marketing fad that has put countless new products in consumers’ hands. Our vocabulary has changed with the ‘greening’ of America just as it did during the technology revolution. Advertisements have more eco-buzzwords than you can shake a renewable bamboo stick at. So how do you spot the true eco-friendly items from the marketing-hyped impostors? Here is a brief eco-vocabulary list to get you started:

Organic: Really means that it came from something that was alive, like a plant or insect or even a human. If a cleaner comes from 100% organic ingredients, it’s plant-based, not synthetic. If a fertilizer is organic it is derives its nutrients from decomposition, not a laboratory. However, these plants may have been grown with pesticides, herbicides, or in unsustainable conditions. There is no government regulation on the use of this word, and it is often abused.

Certified Organic: The USDA certifies production methods that are free from chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, run-off, and other environmentally dangerous chemicals. The foods we eat can be certified organic with regular inspection of the facility. This certification is the most rigorous standard in place nationally for eco-conscious consumers.

GRAS: Generally Recognized As Safe. The US government lists agents that are known to be safe under this designation. Cleaning products that contain these agents are non-toxic and make a good alternative to chlorine and ammonia products. These products generally are not subject to animal testing.

Renewable: Something that regenerates or reproduces. Bamboo is one of the most easily renewable resources because some species can grow 10 feet or more annually. Bamboo has begun to replace wood in cooking utensils, cutting boards, and building materials. It is also replacing cotton for fabric. Most plant resources are renewable.

Toxic: The EPA regulates the use of language on products classified as a pesticide. Disinfectants are classified as pesticides and as such are required to prove their claims, evaluate toxicity, and register this information with the EPA. This labeling requires animal testing per EPA regulations. The use of the word toxic refers to the effects of the product on a variety of animal test subjects.

Sustainable: The food or product is produced and harvested in such a way that protects and maintains the natural resources needed to continue production. Crop rotation, rain-water irrigation, and reforestation are all methods of improving sustainability. Some farmers claim their foods are sustainably produced because they have not yet obtained USDA organic certification and plan to use those farming methods.

Raw: Uncooked. The tricky thing is a lot of what we consume is cooked without our realizing it. Prepared beverages like teas, smoothies, juices, and even soy milk are often pasteurized to make them shelf stable. Pasteurization kills the living organisms, both the dangerous and the good. Cooking also degrades enzymes, protein catalysts our bodies use in digestion, growth, and waste removal. Even flash pasteurization (high temperature for a short period of time) is enough to destroy probiotics. Raw sugar, raw juices, raw cheeses, and raw nuts are all great sources of the helpful enzymes and probiotics our bodies need. These items often have a lower carbon footprint because of the decreased processing, too.

Carbon Neutral: All this talk about carbon gets complicated. We emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide every day. We breathe, we drive, we ride the bus, we use our cell phones. Plants absorb a certain amount of carbon every day. They respire and produce oxygen in its place. Carbon neutral products and companies have sequestered their carbon emissions or off-set it in some way. Usually, these companies purchase tracts of land and plant trees in a ratio that neutralizes the carbon emissions of the product line. Carbon neutral products help reforestation efforts, recycling programs, and more.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This set of standards is designed to define greener building practices. LEED is unique in its openness and accessibility; internationally, these standards are recognized and practiced. A certification program is even available for people who wish to title themselves as LEED Accredited Professionals.

Biodegradable: These products break down quickly because of microorganisms or enzymes. They become part of the soil and often put nutrients back into the ground. Most everything will breakdown given enough time, even diapers, steel cans, and disposable plates. But these things aren’t biodegradable because they take decades to breakdown and may pollute the soil.

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Posted under Eco-Friendly Ideas, Living.