carbon footprint? green leap understands that eco terminology can be confusing so we've put together a green dictionary.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable means that a product or substance is capable of being broken down by natural, biological processes. Residual matter is then absorbed into its local eco system without destroying the natural environment.
Carbon Neutral
When an individual or business becomes carbon neutral it means that they have neutralised the effect of their greenhouse gas emissions. They can do this through the purchase of carbon credits and/or the introduction of earth friendly practices which significantly minimise or eliminate their production of greenhouse gases.
Certified Organic
When a product is certified organic it means that it has met a number of strict guidelines relating to its ingredients, production and handling. There are a small number of private and government bodies who are responsible for testing products and determining their viability for organic certification. These bodies are generally independent.
Compost
Compost is partially or decomposed material that’s derived from organic matter such as vegetables, leaves, lawn clippings and food scraps. Once decomposed this material can be buried or used as a fertiliser in gardens.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch (or cornflour) is derived from the maize grain and can be used for a variety of purposes. One of the main benefits of cornstarch is that it can be used in replacement of plastic to create a number of domestic products such as pens, bin liners and disposable plates and cutlery. Cornstarch is fast becoming a popular green product due to its biodegradable and compostable nature.
Carbon footprint
Most of the things we do on a daily, weekly and yearly basis produce a certain amount of greenhouse gases which can be calculated in units of carbon dioxide. An individual’s carbon footprint is determined by measuring the amount of greenhouse gases that their activities produce.
Greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas is a combination of atmospheric gases which reduce the loss of heat into space. Greenhouse gas is important because it maintains the temperature of the earth and without it our planet would be freezing cold and inhabitable. However, some greenhouse gas are created by pollution which result in the production of excessvive CO2. This can be detrimental to our planet as it captures heat and causes the atmospere to increase it's average temperature.
Greywater
Greywater is the waste water from a household’s bathroom (excluding toilet), laundry and kitchen. Typically this water flows out of the house through our drains but due to domestic water restrictions greywater is commonly being redistributed to our gardens via greywater systems.
Organic
When a product is organic it means that it’s been produced without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilisers. Products that are organic have been created from farming methods which maintain and honour our natural processes and environment.
Recycled
Recycled means that a product has been created from the materials of a pre-existing product or compound. A product may contain a small amount of recycled material or it might be 100% recycled. Whichever it is, both minimise the requirement for virgin materials and ensure that less waste ends up in Australian landfills.