IO Directory 2016

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Cap andTrade
See Emissions Trading.
Carbon Neutral or
Carbon Offset
To offset or neutralize net
greenhouse gas emissions.
This can be achieved by planting
trees, using renewable energy, energy
conservation and emissions trading.
Critics contend there is no definitive
evidence that carbon offsets work since
there are no models or standards that
clearly demonstrate the equilibrium.
(Carbon) Sequestration
See Uptake
CERES (Coalition for
Environmentally Respon-
sible Economies)
CERES is a non-profit 501(c)(3) group
of investors, corporations and public
interest groups using sustainable pros-
perity as a byline to describe its work to
promote change through capital markets.
Its mission is “Mobilizing investor and
business leadership to build a thriving,
Among
coalition group members are, the AFL-
CIO, CalPERS (California Public Employ-
ees’ Retirement System), Earth Island
Institute, Friends of the Earth, Natural Re-
sources Defense Council, Rocky Moun-
tain Institute (RMI), the Sierra Club, the
Union of Concerned Scientists, Walden
Asset Management, World Resources In-
sti WorldWildlife Fund
( www.ceres.org
Compostable
The biodegradability of an organic
material, mostly to biomass, water
and carbon dioxide. Compostable
environments include industrial
settings and common garden or open
space locations. All standards agree
on a six-month period for the organic
matter to degrade. Most standards
support these tests:
• Does it biodegrade to carbon dioxide,
water, biomass at
the rate paper biodegrades?
• Does the material disintegrate leaving
no distinguishable
or visible residue?
• Are there any eco-toxic materials left,
and can the
remaining biomass support plant
growth?
American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM)
D6400-99 says to be considered
compostable, materials must undergo
degradation by biological processes
during composting to yield carbon dioxide
(CO2), water, inorganic compounds and
biomass at a rate consistent with other
compostable materials, leaving no visible,
distinguishable or toxic residue.
The EN (European Committee for
Standardization or Comité Européen
de Normalisation) standard is even
more specific. EN13432 states that a
material is deemed compostable if it will
breakdown to the extent of at least 90
percent to H2O and CO2 and biomass
within six months.
There are other standards as well
with DIN V49000 from the German
Institute for Standardization being the
strictest in the allowance of heavy
metals. Many might be familiar with
DIN standards for their safe release ski
bindings.
Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC)
The Consumer Product Safety
Commission is a U.S. Federal agency in
charge of public safety associated with
consumer products. The CPSC Web site
states “Deaths, injuries, and property
damage from consumer product
incidents cost the nation more than $1
trillion annually. CPSC is committed to
protecting consumers and families from
products that pose a fire, electrical,
chemical, or mechanical hazard.” For
example, the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)
was enacted to protect children from
lead and phthalates 12 years of age or
younger.www.cpsc.gov
Cradle-to-cradle
The life cycle of a product frommanu-
facture to re-manufacture.
Cradle-to-gate
The life cycle of a product or
process from manufacture to end user.
Also known as environmental product
declarations (EPD).
Cradle-to-grave
The life cycle of a product from
manufacture to end-of-use disposal (see
table on page 41).
Degradable
A material that undergoes
chemical change and a loss of original
characteristics due to environmental
conditions. There are no requirements for
time, process or toxicity for this method.
EmissionsTrading
(Cap andTrade)
A practice in which businesses
are given an emissions cap, in the
form of o
pollute up to a maximum credit level.
Businesses that exceed their cap
must purchase (or trade) credits from
a company that has not exceeded its
cap or from trading platforms such as
the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX),
the European Climate Exchange
(ECX) and/or Montreal Climate
Exchange (MCeX).
Problems with the Cap and Trade
concept include where to set the
initial levels of the caps, retiring old
credits, resetting caps and regulatory/
compliance standards.
Environmental Product
Declarations (EPD)
The life cycle of a product from
manufacture to end user. Also know as
cradle-to-gate.
Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC)
The FCS’s mission is to encourage
sustainable
able Develo
world’s forests. Ten principles and 57
criteria define forests certified by the
FSC. There are two certifications awarded
by the Forest Stewardship Council: a For-
est Management and Chain of Custody
certification. Both certifications use