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Glossary
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
Determining the full cradle-to-grave environmental impact of a product, analyzing its original production, its upstream supplier operations and its downstream consumer use and disposal.
Source Reduction
Decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of products, which reduces the waste stream going to landfills. Source reduction is the EPA’s preferred method of waste management.
Greenhouse Gas (Global Warming)
Gases which absorb outgoing terrestrial radiation, such as water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, thereby contributing to global temperatures.
Carbon Footprint
The amount of greenhouse gas generated during a product’s entire life cycle including raw material production, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use and disposal. Measurement is in units of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.
Petrochemical
Chemicals derived from petroleum or natural gas.
Solid Waste
The garbage generated by consumers and businesses. According to the EPA, in 2006 the US generated 251 million tons of trash, with the majority disposed into landfills.
Carbon Number or CO2 equiv. (Carbon dioxide equivalent)
Commonly used measurement of the most prevalent greenhouse gases and their Global Warming Potential (GWP) by relating them back to CO2 (carbon dioxide). For example, CO2 has a GWP of 1 while N2O(nitrous oxide) has a GWP of 310.
Prime Resin
Virgin polyethylene resin manufactured to meet narrow specifications required for consistent product performance.
Reprocessed Resin
Polyethylene resin that has been processed at least once (which could be post-industrial scrap or post-consumer recycled material) and usually has minimal and widely varied performance specifications.
