Sustainable glossary

BIODEGRADABLE:

an ingredient or formula that will degrade into simple and benign components in the environment. The highest technical standard for defining biodegradability, whereby at least 70% of organic ingredients break down within 28 days.

CARBON FOOTPRINT:

the full quantity of carbon consumed to produce a product, run a company or complete an activity. This measures products and company footprints using internationally recognized methods and constantly seeks ways to reduce our footprint wherever we can.

CARBON OFFSET:

an investment that results in an external reduction of carbon emissions. carbon offsets can take forms such as planting trees, investing in renewable energy technologies, or otherwise reducing the quantity of carbon in the atmosphere, thereby reducing global warming.

CRADLE TO CRADLE®:

a design framework for making products that are safe for people and embody environmental benefit, outlined in the book of the same name by chemist Michael Braungart and architect Bill McDonough.

CRADLE TO CRADLE®-CERTIFIED:

Cradle to Cradle® certification is the highest bar for green product design, evaluating formulation safety, green packaging design and manufacturing processes responsibility. 

COMPOSTABLE:

a material that will break down to simple, benign components in composting conditions.

CRUELTY-FREE:

We believe that household products should be cruelty free. So most of our suppliers are Leaping Bunny approved. A global programme, Leaping Bunny requires cruelty free standards over and above the legal requirements.For more information about Cruelty Free International, Leaping Bunny and Leaping Bunny criteria, please visit www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

GREEN CHEMISTRY:

the domain of chemistry that encourages the efficient use of safe, renewable chemistry technologies to make products. Our wonderful suppliers rely heavily on green chemistry advances to craft our formulations

NATURAL:

A natural product is one where 100% of the functional ingredients (the ones that do the cleaning and bring enjoyment) come from plant-based, abundant mineral or water sources.

NATURALLY DERIVED:

an ingredient or formula made from renewable, plant-based materials, abundant minerals or water.

NON-TOXIC:

an ingredient or formula that will not cause an adverse health effect in normal or foreseeable use.

RECYCLABLE:

a packaging element or material that can be collected by municipal recycling programs and made into a new material/package.

RECYCLED PLASTIC:

plastic that has been diverted from a waste stream and made into something new. This includes both PCR (post-consumer recycled) and PIR (post-industrial recycled).

SUSTAINABILITY:

the health, community, and environmental impact of our products.