acid rain - the precipitation or deposition of acids on land or water; caused primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, it dissolves metals in soils which can be toxic to plants and aquatic organisms; acids deposited on architecture can dissove cement and other materials. (Okala Guide) afforestation – the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover. (Wikipedia) bioaccumulation - net accumulation over time of a substance, like a toxin, in an organism. (UN Environment Programme) biocapacity - the capacity of a given biologically productive area to generate an ongoing supply of renewable resources and to absorb its wastes. Unsustainability occurs if the area’s ecological footprint exceeds its biocapacity. (GreenFacts.org) biological capacity or biocapacity - the capacity of ecosystems to regenerate what people demand from those surfaces. In the National Footprint Accounts, the biocapacity of an area is calculated by multiplying the actual physical area by the yield factor and the appropriate equivalence factor. Biocapacity is usually expressed in global hectares. (Global Footprint Network) biodegradable - capable of decomposing under natural conditions into elements found in nature. (Maharam and the Environment) biodiversity - A measure of the variety of organisms within a local area or region. The number of species in a local area or region. Also a measure of the variety of species in a community that takes into account the abundance of individuals of each species. (Definitions of Basic Terms in Ecology and Biology, Amy Lesen 2004) biological nutrient - a material or product that is designed to return to the biological cycle- it is literally consumed by microorganisms in the soil and by other animals. (McDonough and Braungart 2002) biomagnification - progressive build up of a substance, like a toxin, by successive trophic levels. (UN Environment Programme) biomimicry - a science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. (e.g. a solar cell inspired by a leaf) also biomimetics. (Glossary of Ecodesign Terms, from An Ecodesign Toolkit, David Bergman and Erika Doering 2003) bioplastic - plastics made from plants, usually polymers of starch or polylactic acid (PLA). Applications include: bags, cutlery, plates, pens, clothing, credit cards, food packaging, agricultural films, tea bags, coffee filters, diapers and napkins. (Bergman and Doering 2003) bioremediation - the process by which living organisms act to degrade hazardous organic contaminants to environmentally safe levels in soils, subsurface materials, water, sludges and residues. (Bergman and Doering 2003) brownfield - an abandoned, used, real estate site available for redevelopment; usually one that presents environmental challenges stemming from industrial or waste disposal operations. (Bergman and Doering 2003) carbon offsets - efforts to reduce greenhouse gases including renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. (www.carbonfund.org 2008) carbon footprint - the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by a person, household, building, organization or company. (Milbourn, EPA 2008) carbon sequestration – a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form. (Dictionary.com) carbon sink – a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (Dictionary.com) carcinogen - cancer causing substances that can cause permanent disability and/or death. (Okala Guide) chlorofluorocarbon (CFC/HCFC) - chemical compound found in many aerosol products and processes (e.g. foam upholstery cushions, fire retardants and insulation); responsible for depleting the earth’s ozone layer. (Bergman and Doering 2003) clear cutting - removing all trees from an area. (Bergman and Doering 2003) climate refugee - a person forced to leave their home region due to sudden or long-term changes to their local environment due to changes such as: increased droughts, desertification, sea level rise. Also: climate migrant, environmental migrant, eco-migrant, environmental refugee (Wikipedia 2016) community forestry - local management of neighboring woods by the community. contour strip mining - surface mining by cutting a series of contour bands on the side of a hill or mountain. Used primarily for coal. Usually the most destructive form of strip mining. (Bergman and Doering 2003) cost-benefit analysis - estimates and comparison of short-term and long-term costs (losses) and benefits (gains) from an economic decision. If the estimated benefits exceed the estimated costs, the decision to buy an economic good or provide a public good is considered worthwhile. In ecological contexts: an attempt to compare the cost of pollution control or some other project with the costs of pollution damage (dollar or otherwise) from an activity or project in an attempt to minimize the total costs and still reduce harmful environmental effects to an acceptable level. (Bergman and Doering 2003) critical load - the maximum load that a system can tolerate before failing. As applied to environmental issues, it usually refers to exposure to pollutants. It is an estimate of the level of exposure to one or more pollutants below which no harmful effects are known to occur to specified elements within an ecosystem. (Maine Department of Environmental Protection 2012) deep ecology - a movement that argues for a holistic view of the world where humans are seen as no more or less important than any other part of nature. Among other things, it rejects the dominant worldview that ecology is subordinate to economics. (Bergman and Doering 2003) dematerialize - reducing the amount of materials needed to produce or use a product. (Bergman and Doering 2003) detergent - synthetic, organic, liquid, water-soluble cleaning agent that has wetting and emulsifying properties. Unlike soap, detergents are not manufactured from fats and oils. (Bergman and Doering 2003) dioxin - a synthetic, organic chemical of the chlorinated hydrocarbon class. It is one of the most toxic compounds known to humans; harmful effects include induction of cancer and birth defects, even in extremely minute concentrations. It has become a widespread environmental pollutant because of the use of certain herbicides that contain dioxin as a contaminant. (Bergman and Doering 2003)

downcycle - to recycle a material into a material of lesser qualities than the original. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecological design (ecodesign) - a design process that considers the environmental impacts associated with a product throughout its entire life from acquisition of raw materials through production/manufacturing and use to end of life. At the same time as reducing environmental impacts, ecodesign seeks to improve the aesthetic and functional aspects of the product with due consideration to social and ethical needs. Synonymous with “design for the environment” (DfE), often used by engineers, and “lifecycle design” (LCD) in North America. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecological economics (eco-economics) - a sub-field of ecology regarding economics. Themes include: natural capital, ecosystem services, carrying capacity, resource flows and environmental justice. Compare to environmental economics. ecological backlash - unexpected and often undesirable side effects from changing or stressing an ecosystem. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecological footprint - a measure of the resource use by a population within a defined area of land, including imported resources. Assessment of the ecological footprints of nation states or other defined geographic areas reveal the true environmental impact of those states and their ability to survive on their own resources in the long term. The term can also be applied to products but it is more commonly refered to as the environmental “rucksack” associated with product manufacturing. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecology - study of the relationships of living organisms with each other and with their environment; study of the structure and function of nature. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecosphere (biosphere) - total of all the various ecosystems on the planet along with their interactions. The sphere of air, water and land in which all life is found. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecosystem - self-sustaining and self-regulating community of organisms interacting with one another and with their environment. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ecosystem services - services from the natural world that enable humans to survive and thrive, providing us with uncontaminated air, water, and food. Examples include: global oxygen production, regulation of climate, detoxification and recycling of human wastes, regulation of the chemical composition of oceans, UV radiation. 
(The Natural Step for Business, Nattrass & Altomare 1999) ecotoxicity - the effect of toxic substances on plants, animals and other biota in the natural environment. (Okala Guide) effluent - any substance, particularly a liquid, that enters the environment from a point source. Generally refers to wastewater from a sewage treatment or industrial plant. (Bergman and Doering 2003) embodied energy - the energy used to extract, process, transport, refine, maintain and dispose of a material. (Bergman and Doering 2003) emission standard - maximum amount of a pollutant that is permitted to be discharged from a single polluting source. (Bergman and Doering 2003) endangered species - species in immediate danger of biological extinction or extermination. (Bergman and Doering 2003) energy - ability or capacity to do work or produce a change by pushing or pulling some form of matter. (Bergman and Doering 2003) energy efficient - a process that utilizes less energy than conventional. Because this is a relative term, it is helpful to consider ratings by a third party (ex. Energy Star rating) environmental economics - a sub-field of economics regarding to environmental issues. A major topic is the assessment of the economic value of the environment, namely natural resources and ecosystem services. Some solutions to addressing externalities include regulations, taxes and quotas. environmental justice - a social movement that focuses on the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. (Wikipedia) epoxy resins - thermosetting resins made by polymerization of epoxides or oxiranes with other materials such as amines, alcohols, phenols and unsaturated compounds. (Bergman and Doering 2003) equivalence factor - a productivity- based scaling factor that converts a specific land type (such as cropland or forest) into a universal unit of biologically productive area, a global hectare. For land types (e.g., cropland) with productivity higher than the average productivity of all biologically productive land and water area on Earth, the equivalence factor is greater than 1. Thus, to convert an average hectare of cropland to global hectares, it is multiplied by the cropland equivalence factor of 2.51. Grazing lands, which have lower productivity than cropland, have an equivalence factor of 0.46 (see also yield factor). In a given year, equivalence factors are the same for all countries. 
(Global Footprint Network) extended product responsibility (EPR) - a public policy concept and government approach to get industry thinking across the life cycle. Coined by Thomas Lindqvist, it utilizes the life-cycle approach to identify opportunities to prevent pollution and reduce resource and energy use in each stage of the product life cycle (or product chain) through changes in product design and process technology. (Bergman and Doering 2003) external cost/ externality - cost of production or consumption that must be borne by society and not by the producer. (Bergman and Doering 2003) extirpated - local extinction; it may exist elsewhere. Individuals or populations may be reintroduced. extractive industries - processes that involve the extraction of raw materials from the earth for human use, including oil and gas extraction, mining, dredging and quarrying. (businessdictionary.com 2017) fauna - animal populations of a region. (Bergman and Doering 2003)

flat pack - a product designed to collapse into a flattened state in order to reduce packaging, shipment volume, and storage. Flora - plant populations of a region. (Bergman and Doering 2003) fly ash - small, solid particles of ash and soot generated when coal, oil, or waste materials are burned. (Bergman and Doering 2003) fossil fuel - fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, that were produced thousands of years ago by the decomposition of ancient plants and animals (i.e. fossils). These fuels emit carbon dioxide and other gases when consumed. (Bergman and Doering 2003) fuel cell - an electrochemical device in which hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity with heat and water vapor as byproducts. Natural gas is often used as the source of hydrogen, with air as the source of oxygen. (Bergman and Doering 2003) geothermal energy - heat energy produced when rocks lying below the earth’s surface are heated to high temperature by energy from the decay of radioactive elements in the earth and from magma. (Bergman and Doering 2003) global hectare (gha) - the accounting unit for the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity accounts. These productivity weighted biologically productive hectares allow researchers to report both the biocapacity of the earth or a region and the demand on biocapacity (the Ecological Footprint). A gha is a biologically productive hectare with world average biological productivity for a given year. Ghas are needed because different land types have different productivities. A gha of, for example, cropland, would occupy a smaller physical area than the much less biologically productive pasture land, as more pasture would be needed to provide the same biocapacity as one hectare of cropland. Because world productivity varies slightly from year to year, the value of a global hectare may change slightly from year to year. (Global Footprint Network) global warming - the increase in the earth’s temperature due to increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. globalization - the breaking down of regional and national boundaries leading to a world in which money, resources, goods and culture are no longer contained within geographic areas. Supporters believe it will increase economic development through increased trade and foreign investment. Critics argue that it allows multinational corporations to act without control by government. (Bergman and Doering 2003) gray water - wastewater captured from washbasins, bathtubs, showers and clothes washers; can be recycled to flush toilets or for irrigation. (Bergman and Doering 2003) greenhouse effect - the trapping of heat in the atmosphere by a layer of gases, similar to the way heat is trapped in a greenhouse. These gases include: water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halogenated fluorocarbons, ozone, perfluorinated carbons, and hydrodluorocarbons. (See global warming) (Bergman and Doering 2003) greenwash - to falsely or misleadingly present environmental benefits of a product or policy. (Bergman and Doering 2003) gross national product (GNP) - the total value of goods and services, usually produced in a year’s time, and often used as the primary indicator of a nation’s wealth. Similar to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (Bergman and Doering 2003) groundwater - the water present beneath Earth’s surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. Major sources of groundwater pollution include: industrial and household chemicals and garbage landfills, excessive fertilizers and pesticides, industrial waste lagoons, tailings and process wastewater from mines, industrial fracking, oil field brine pits, leaking underground oil storage tanks and pipelines, sewage sludge and septic systems. (Wikipedia) groundwater mining - the removal, or withdraw, of water in the natural ground over a period of time that exceeds the recharge rate of the supply aquifer. Also called “overdraft” or “mining the aquifer”. (Julie Feng, eNotes) habitat alteration - the physical modification or destruction of natural habitats, a primary cause of the loss of biodiversity; also refered to as land use. (Okala Guide) harmful algal bloom - a bloom of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that potentially contains toxins with effects ranging from skin irritation to liver and neurotoxins. While they can occur naturally, human activities are thought to contribute, including malfunctioning septic systems, urban and agricultural runoff containing phosphates and nitrates from detergents and fertilizers. (Michigan Sea Grant) heavy metals - group of metallic elements with relatively high atomic weights, such as mercury, iron, cobalt, cadmium, lead, nickel, zinc. (Bergman and Doering 2003) human ecology - interdisciplinary study of the relations between humans and the environment. It crosses traditional academic and scientific boundaries, attempting to integrate scientific, behavioral, sociological, political, economic and ethical dimensions of human relationships to the environment. (Bergman and Doering 2003) hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) - chemical compound used in refrigerants and insulation; differ from CFCs in that they contain hydrogen as well as chlorine. Because of this, they are less chemically stable than CFCs and, when emitted into the atmosphere, disappear more quickly; they are being phased out by many countries, but not as rapidly as CFCs. (Bergman and Doering 2003) hydrogen economy - a proposed future economic system in which hydrogen will replace fossil fuels to become an important energy carrier. The potential fallacy of the hydrogen economy is that current proposals for producing hydrogen utilize fossil fuels. (Bergman and Doering 2003) hypereutrophication - the transformation of a body of water due to excessive nutrients; overabundance of nutrients stimulates overgrowth of algae which results in the reduction of oxygen available to other organisms (e.g. fish). A major source of excessive nutrients is fertilizer run-off from agriculture. (ex. run-off leading to the Gulf of Mexico has resulted in a massive “dead zone”) industrial smog - air pollution, primarily from sulfur oxides and particulates produced by the burning of coal and oil. (Bergman and Doering 2003) inorganic compounds - substances that consist of chemical combinations of two or more elements excepting those used to form organic compounds (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous); an example is NaCl (sodium chloride) (Bergman and Doering 2003) landfill - a land waste disposal site; some issues include: pollution of groundwater due to leaching, production of methane gas, lack of air which slows decomposition, identifying sites (people do not want to live near them). (Bergman and Doering 2003) local - material or product that is grown or produced in close proximity to manufacturing (in regards to raw material) or consumption (in regards to products). The term is relative so claims should indicate the origin, allowing for interpretation of the claim. mutagen - a substance that can cause genetic mutation. (Okala Guide) natural capital - refers to existing air, water, land and energy resources from which all resources derive. Main functions include: resource production, waste assimilation and life support. (Bergman and Doering 2003) nonrenewable resource - resources that are in finite and cannot be regenerated (on a practical timescale) including fossil fuels and metals. 
(Bergman and Doering 2003) off-gassing - emissions of volatile compounds to the air from synthetic or natural polymers usually deriving from the additives, elastomers, fillers and residual chemicals from the manufacturing process rather than from the long chain polymers. (Bergman and Doering 2003) open pit mining - surface mining of materials that creates a large pit. (Bergman and Doering 2003) ore - mineral containing constituent, usually metal, which can be mined and worked. (Bergman and Doering 2003) organic - generally indicates that the material or product was produced without synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Further criteria are required depending on the certification system. ozone layer - a layer of gaseous ozone (O3) in the upper atmosphere that protects life on earth by filtering out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. (Not to be confused with ozone alerts, which occur when weather conditions combine with pollution to create hazardous levels of ground level ozone resulting in breathing difficulties for vulnerable people). (Bergman and Doering 2003) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - a class of organic chemicals primarily used as solvents in manufacturing processes. They are stable and can bioaccumulate. Have been shown to induce cancer. (Bergman and Doering 2003) petrochemicals - chemicals made from natural gas or petroleum. (Bergman and Doering 2003) photovoltaic cell - device to harness the sun’s energy and convert it to electricity that can be stored in batteries and/or used to power electrical systems. (Bergman and Doering 2003) pollution charges - effluent or emission charges per unit of pollutant released during a particular time period. (Bergman and Doering 2003) post-consumer content - the portion of a material that has already been through a consumer use cycle and has been recycled and then reused or reprocessed for a use again. (Bergman and Doering 2003) post-industrial materials - industrial manufacturing scrap or waste; also called pre-consumer material. “Post-industrial recycled content” is the percentage of post-industrial materials in the whole. (Bergman and Doering 2003) product stewardship - an environmental management strategy in which the entity that designs, produces, sells, or uses a product takes responsibility for minimizing the product’s environmental impact throughout all stages of the product’s lifecycle. (Bergman and Doering 2003) PVC-free - a product that is made with an alternative to PVC. The claim should apply to something that is conventionally made with PVC. quarry - a place from which dimension stone, rock, constrcution aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate has been excavated from the ground. It is the same thing as an open-pit mine from which minerals are extracted. (Wikipedia) reclaimed - a material or product that is diverted from the waste stream and utilized with minimal alteration. recyclable - capable of being recycled. Note 1 – a recyclable material does not necessarily contain recycled content. Note 2 – a recyclable material does not necessarily get recycled. Note 3 – a recyclable material may diminish in quality after the recycling process (see downcycle). (Bergman and Doering 2003) recycle - to collect and reprocess a resource so it can be used again, as when used glass bottles are collected, melted down, and made into new glass products. (Bergman and Doering 2003) recycled - having been through a recycling process. (Bergman and Doering 2003) red mud – a toxic byproduct of the process of refining bauxite into aluminum oxide. The byproduct contains a variety of materials, including iron which gives it a red color. It has a dangerously high pH because of the sodium hydroxide used in the refining process. There are limited, if any, economic ways to extract the useful elements and it is usually dried out and buried. renewable energy - energy produced from non-fossil fuel and non-nuclear sources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted. Types include: moving water (hydro, tidal, wave power), thermal gradients in ocean water, biomass, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, municipal waste (methane, incineration). (Bergman and Doering 2003) renewable resource - resource that potentially cannot be used up because it is constantly or cyclically replenished. It comes from an essentially inexhaustible source (ex. the sun) or renewed by cyclical processes (ex. timber). (Bergman and Doering 2003) resin - a solid or semi-solid organic material which has an indefinite (often high) molecular weight, exhibits a tendency to flow when subjected to stress, usually has a softening or melting range, and usually fractures conchoidally. Most resins are polymers. (Bergman and Doering 2003) reusable - usually a component in a product that has a secondary use after its primary use is fulfilled (ex. A coffee can used as a flower pot). reuse - to use a product over and over again (ex. returnable glass bottles which are washed and refilled). Differs from ‘recycle’ in that the product/material is not reformulated (i.e. breaking glass, melting, and reforming into bottles). (Bergman and Doering 2003) right-to-know - in the context of workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. Includes both Community Right to Know and Workplace Right to Know. (Wikipedia) Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) - a constellation of health problems arising from indoor air pollutants in a building where people live or work. Symptoms include headaches, nausea and allergic reactions. (Bergman and Doering 2003) sludge - solid matter settling to the bottom of sedimentation tanks in sewage treatment plants that must be disposed of/recycled by digestion or other methods. (Bergman and Doering 2003) smog - originally referred to a combination of smoke and fog; caused by the emissions of nitrogen oxides and VOCs that generate ground level ozone in the presence of sunlight; it increases the incidence of asthma in humans and reduces the ability of plants to photosynthesize. (Bergman and Doering 2003, Okala Guide) solar collector - device for collecting radiant energy from the sun and converting it into heat. (Bergman and Doering 2003) solar energy - direct forms of radiant energy from the sun as well as indirect forms of energy- such as wind, falling or flowing water (hydropower), ocean thermal gradients, and biomass- produced when the sun interacts with the earth. (Bergman and Doering 2003)

strip mining - mining in which the earth’s surface is stripped away. (Bergman and Doering 2003) sulfur dioxide - heavy, colorless gas that is very toxic to plants and fairly toxic to humans. It is produced by burning coal, by smelting and other industrial processes. (Bergman and Doering 2003) surface mining - the process of removing the overburden of topsoil, subsoil and other strata so that underlying mineral deposits can be removed. (Bergman and Doering 2003) sustainable design - the design of economically viable products and services that minimize negative environmental and social impacts throughout their life cycle. In the best cases, they restore ecosystems, improve human health, and promote social equity. sustainable development - development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (World Commission of Environment and Development) sustained yield - principle for managing a forest in which there is a balance between new planting and growing and the amount of wood removed by cutting, pests, disease, and fire so that a forest is not depleted. (Bergman and Doering 2003) synfuels - fuels such as synthetic natural gas and synthetic fuel oil produced from coal or sources other than natural gas or crude oil. (Bergman and Doering 2003) technical nutrient - a material or product that is designed to go back into the technical cycle, into the industrial metabolism from which it came. (ex. glass, plastic, metal) (McDonough and Braungart 2002) teratogen - a substance that can cause birth defects. toxic substances - substances that can cause serious illness or death. (Bergman and Doering 2003) trophic level - position of an organism in the food chain. unmarketables - materials that do not fit into either the biologic or technical metabolism because they contain materials that are hazardous. (McDonough & Braungart 2002) volatile organic compound (VOC) - carbon-containing substances released by natural processes and human activities that readily produce fumes; their reaction with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight produces photochemical smog. It is generally applied to organic solvents, certain paint additives, aerosol spray can propellants, fuels, petroleum distillates, dry cleaning products and many other industrial and consumer products. They are also emitted by a number of plants and trees. Some can be hazardous to your health when inhaled. Those from outgassing of fabrics and building materials are important contributors to sick building syndrome. Those from cars and trees contribute to photochemical smog. (Bergman and Doering 2003) waste=food - the concept that in nature there is no such thing as waste; by-products from one organism or process are food for another. As a design strategy, all materials are viewed as continuously valuable, circulating in closed loops of production, use and recycling. (Bergman and Doering 2003) waste in place - the process of leaving contaminated waste in its location of dumping rather than removing it; for example, leaving mine tailing waste in the soil based on an assessment that the waste is stable and not migrating. It is controversial because it is difficult to know with certainty that contaminants are not leaching, but the cost of removing large amounts of waste can be exorbitant and where and how it is removed and transported is also problematic. water efficient - a process that utilizes less water than conventional; it may include water reclamation, filtration and recycling. Because this is a relative term, it is helpful to consider third party ratings. water security - The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability. (unwater.org 2017) wind power - energy generated through the use of a turbine that collects wind energy and converts it to electricity. (Bergman and Doering 2003) watt - unit of power or rate at which electrical work is done. (Bergman and Doering 2003) yield factor - a factor that accounts for differences between countries in productivity of a given land type. Each country and each year has yield factors for cropland, grazing land, forest, and fisheries. For example, in 2008, German cropland was 2.21 times more productive than world average cropland. (The German cropland yield factor of 2.21, multiplied by the cropland equivalence factor of 2.51 converts German cropland hectares into global hectares: one hectare of cropland is equal to 5.6 gha. (Global Footprint Network) ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES & POLICIES Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) - U.S. law enacted in 1986 whose primary purpose is to inform communities and citizens of chemical hazards in their area. Sections 311 and 312 of EPCRA require businesses to report the locations and quantities of chemicals stored on-site to state and local governments in order to help communities prepare to respond to chemical spills and similar emergencies. EPCRA Section 313 requires EPA and the States to annually collect data on releases and transfers of certain toxic chemicals from industrial facilities, and make the data available to the public in the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). (www.epa.gov/tri) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - the agency with the executive branch of the federal government charged with setting environmental standards and regulations and enforcing environmental laws. 
(Bergman and Doering 2003) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the primary federal agency concerned with the protection of consumer food, drugs and cosmetics. (Bergman and Doering 2003) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - an independent, international, member-based organization that accredits certification bodies and promotes voluntary third-party certification. Forestry practices are evaluated to determine how successfully they manage the forest in regards to sustainable yield, biodiversity and forest health. (Nattrass & Altomare 1999) GoodWeave - a nonprofit organization working to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and offer educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal and Pakistan. The GoodWeave label is your best assurance that no illegal child labor was used in the manufacture of a carpet or rug. (GoodWeave) Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) - a standard for textiles developed by group of member organizations whose mission is “the development, implementation, verification, protection and promotion of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). It stipulates requirements throughout the supply chain for both ecology and labour conditions in textile and apparel manufacturing using organically produced raw materials. Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic, persistent pesticides and fertilizers. In addition, organic production relies on adequate animal husbandry and excludes genetic modification.” (GOTS, http://www.global-standard.org) Greenguard Registry - identifies specific products that have been tested for chemical and particle emissions using stringent testing laboratory protocols. Testing is administered by Air Quality Sciences, an independent laboratory, utilizing environmental chamber protocols following emissions standards set by USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety & Heath Administration), German Federal Environmental Agency (Blue Angel Label) and the State of Washington. (www.greenguard.org) (Maharam and the Environment) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - Geneva-based non-governmental organization established in 1947 to promote standardized practices in the international trade of goods and services. ISO 14001 certification ensures that participants’ corporate processes, practices and systems have been evaluated for environmental impact by an independent consulting firm. Standards for Environmental Labeling (www.ansi.org) (www.iso14001.com) (Maharam and the Environment) ISO 14000 - a series of environmental management standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These standards comprise environmental management systems, environmental audits, environmental labeling and environmental performance assessments, as well as LCA and the use of specific terminology and definitions. The certification under one standard in this series, the ISO14001 environmental management system, is becoming a common prerequisite to business in Europe and other regions. (Bergman and Doering 2003) Kyoto Protocol - a legally binding agreement adopted by countries in attendance at the December 1997 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, Japan. Delegates from the 160 industrialized nations present agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 emissions levels by 2010. The U.S. pledged a 7% reduction, although the U.S. Congress did not ratify the agreement. (Bergman and Doering 2003) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - Green Building Rating System- a building certification program developed by the US Green Building Council officially launched in 2000. Points are allocated for credits in six categories: Sustainable Building Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Design Process. Beyond normal certification, buildings can receive LEED Silver, Gold, and Platinum certification levels for higher point counts. (www.leedbuilding.org) (Maharam and the Environment) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - a methodology for identifying and quantifying the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifespan, from procurement of raw materials, transport and production to use and end of life (disposal/recycling). (Bergman and Doering 2003) Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) - a description of the environmental and health implications of a chemical compound along with instructions for their safe use prepared by the manufacturers and provided to users. In 1990 the International Labor Organization adopted international standards in the Convention Concerning Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work. (Bergman and Doering 2003) NGO - non-governmental agency Oeko-Tex - EU based organization that tests textiles for a broad array of chemicals that might cause potential health impacts through bodily contact. (www.oeko-tex.com) (Maharam and the Environment) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - a U.S. agency responsible for health and safety conditions in the workplace. (Bergman and Doering 2003) Superfund- a U.S. federally funded program managed by the EPA to clean up toxic waste sites. The sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites. The official title is Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and was established in 1980. As of 2014, there were 1322 sites on the National Priorities List and 53 additional sites have been proposed. 375 sites have been cleaned up and removed from the list. 
(US EPA and Wikipedia) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program - a component of EPCRA, TRI is a database available to the public of chemical releases by industries. Armed with TRI data, communities have more power to hold companies accountable and make informed decisions about how toxic chemicals are to be managed. The data often spurs companies to focus on their chemical management practices since they are being measured and made public. In addition, the data serves as a rough indicator of environmental progress over time. (www.epa.gov/tri) Pollution Prevention Act - U.S. law passed in 1990 which strengthened EPCRA by requiring that additional data on waste management and source reduction activities be reported under TRI. (www.epa.gov/tri)