Glossary
The quality and production of recycled products over recent years has improved enormously, leaving little if any difference to unsustainable alternatives.
The debate over the issue of transport, print and production methods can be contentious and no doubt will continue to be debated, however, to assist with your purchasing decisions we have listed the following glossary of terms, which we trust to be of assistance to you:
Aluminium
Aluminium is practically the perfect recyclable material. It makes up approximately 7 percent of the Earth's crust & is most familiarly used in the manufacture of soft drink cans. Out of the most common recyclable materials that clutter up our landfills: glass, paper, metals, cardboard, plastics, aluminium is one of the materials that is endlessly 100% recyclable. Recycles well and suffers no loss in quality when recycled.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable products have the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment by biological means.
Bamboo
Bamboo is 100% naturally grown, without assistance from man. Bamboo is 100% sustainable, it is also naturally antibacterial & Bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable. As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years. It spreads rapidly across large areas. Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.
Chlorine free
Chlorine and derivatives such as chlorine dioxide, are the most common bleaching agents used by the pulp and paper industry. Not only quite harmful to the environment but particularly harmful to the aquatic environment. Chlorine – free paper is a far more preferable alternative than paper bleached with chlorine.
Corn Plastic
Derived from corn & is 100% biodegradable.
Cotton-Organic:
Organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers, growth regulators, chemical pesticides, irrigation or genetic engineering. The final cloth is unbleached and dyed with natural plant dyes. For comparison, a typical conventional cotton t-shirt uses about 150 grams of acutely toxic pesticides and insecticides, approximately the size of a cup of sugar (source: Soil Association).
Dynamo Energy (Kinetic Energy)
Dynamo Energy (or Kinetic Energy) is self-generated from a wind up or natural movement. No need for battery power.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership aiming at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by awareness raising and by campaigning. Fairtrade products are inspected and certified by FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International) and ensures the producer receives a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production.
FSC Wood (Wood-Sustained Timber)
Forestry Stewardship Council approved timber is cut wood, of which the volume of timber cut each year, is no greater than the volume of wood that grew during that year on standing trees. This ensures long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples.
Glass
Mostly derived from a molten mixture of soda ash, sand, and lime. Glass is an excellent material for re-using and recycling, which can be repeated endlessly without any loss of quality.
Green Products
All encompassing generic term which describes a product, which has some environmentally friendly qualities. Green products are 'alternative options' to help our planet.
HDPE
High Density Polyethylene. A plastic material that is commonly used in milk cartons and packaging.
Leather-Organic
Organic leather is from skins that are tanned using only vegetable extracts and chemicals approved by TUV. All possible by-products are also re-used. Organic leather is also non allergenic. It has been discovered that normal chrome leather produces toxic chrome when incinerated and when sent to land fill sites will not decompose fully.
Leather-Bonded (Recycled)
Bonded leather is a recycled man-made material containing elements of recycled leathers, leather scrap & tannery leather fibres, which otherwise would go to a landfill. Bonded leather can also be known as Finecell, Leatherboard, Composition Leather or Split Leather. Bonded Finecell is describing the print finish on the material. Bonded leather generally contains: 66% Reclaimed Leather Fibres - 30% Natural Latex - 4% Tanning Oils.
Leather-Recycled
Recycled leather generally contains: 85% Reclaimed Leather Fibres - 12% Organic Oil - 3% Polyurethane Coating. Recycled leather is generally sourced from the EU thus reducing Carbon Emissions.
LED Light
Energy saving, efficient & long lasting light source. Environmentally friendly energy compared to conventional light sources.
PET (Polyethylene Terepthalate)
PET is a type of plastic used in the production of soft drink bottles and other kinds of food containers. Recycled into fabric producing a material known as Eco spun.
Plastic-TPE (Recyclable)
TPE is fully recyclable & is also PVC-Free. Plastic TPE Material content: SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene) Recyclable (Code 7), Elastic (Hardness 35). Standard silicone material is not recyclable.
Polypropylene & Non Woven Polypropylene
Polypropylene is made up from carbon and hydrogen, and is manufactured without any dangerous emissions. Polypropylene can be recycled, incinerated, or land filled without any harm to the environment. When burnt, polypropylene will only give off water vapour and carbon dioxide, which is converted by photosynthesis. Polypropylene is sometimes known as 'pp'.
PVC
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) has numerous environmental issues. In the manufacturing process they relate to the additives used with plastic. In the production and personalisation of promotional products PVC is often used in ink (known as plastisol). Plastisol ink contains Phthalates, which are claimed to be endocrine disruptors. These chemicals have been linked with generating either sex changes, or unbalanced levels of certain sexes within the marine environment. With growing awareness of these issues, large corporations who have set environmental objectives now include the removal of PVC and phthalates from all of their products, packaging and stores etc. There is also now pressure on many printers to use products free from these chemicals. Recognising this need, ink producers have since developed inks, which are both PVC and phthalate free. With environmental concerns growing, the introduction of this new ink ensures that printers are now able to offer an alternative solution.
Recyclable
Recyclable material or product is often used to designate that a product or its package can be recycled. In theory, anything can be recycled, so in looking to do the right thing for the environment, choose items that are made from recycled material.
Recycled
A term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product (often taking the place of virgin material), and then bought back to the consumer as new item.
Solar Energy
Energy self-generated from the sun. No need for battery power.
Soya Bean
Soya bean products are 100% biodegradable & Non Toxic.
Slate
While not sustainable, slate is purely a natural metamorphic rock. Slate Coasters are made from Natural Welsh Slate, mined from a depth of over 1500ft and scientifically proven to be a Least 500 Million Years Old. Manufactured from Roofing Industry Waste Material, which would otherwise end up as landfill.
Vegetable Based Inks
Vegetable oil opposed to petroleum solvent is used as the vehicle for carrying pigment. Colours derived from vegetable based inks tend to be more vibrant than petroleum-based inks, however, may take longer to dry.
Wood
Wood can be recycled in a variety of ways, as a natural product it is biodegradable & will eventually rot at the end of its useful life. Also, Look for Wood Products in our site, which comply with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification by the Soil Association's Woodmark Programme. The Wood in these Items is certified to come from Sound Forestry Practice and has not contributed to the Destruction of Woodlands Anywhere.
Carbon Related Terms
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (measured in units of carbon dioxide). A carbon footprint would include energy use in business & domestic environments, & travel. To obtain a more technical definition, the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have produced a Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Carbon Neutral
Carbon Neutral activities counteract the release of carbon dioxide in to the atmosphere, by maintaining a measured balance between producing and using carbon. The basic definition is that we don't want our energy use to add greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon Neutral activities measure personal & business impacts & reduce emissions where practical. When unavoidable emissions are created this is then 'Carbon Offset' by participating or investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases in amounts equal to what is being emitted. Carbon Neutral status is achieved when a person or company has a 100% carbon offset.
Carbon Offset
Carbon Offset is the balancing of business or personal carbon dioxide emissions created by domestic & business activities, vehicle emissions or travel. Carbon Offset is achieved by proactive carbon neutralising activities. For example: planting trees in urban areas, growing plants to use as fuel or other projects which reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Important Note
The above definitions are generic & do not indicate that the products listed in this site meet these or any other specifications stated. Each product should be individually checked to establish the exact specification of the products 'environmental & other specification qualifications'. These definitions are our own interpretation & are purely created as a guide. These definitions should not be considered a statement of exact fact. For more scientific definitions further research should be completed.
