Today we are focusing on the P-S terms around sustainability efforts.
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) - a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. Many of these chemicals don’t break down in the environment, instead building up in wildlife habitats and waterways. Exposure to high levels of PFCs may adversely affect growth, development and reproduction, and injure the liver, according to the CDC. PFCs are often used in durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings on various performance fabrics, giving them water- and stain-resistant properties, although brands have recently been developing alternative DWR apparel in response to health and environmental concerns.
Plant-Based Plastic - a type of bioplastic created from agricultural scraps, such as corn, sugarcane, wheat or food waste. Some bioplastics are biodegradable and compostable, but environmentalists caution that they’re not as green as they seem.
Post-Consumer Recycling - reprocessing items previously used by a consumer into a new product, like cans and water bottles.
Pre-Consumer Recycling - material that has never reached the end-user and is diverted from a landfill during the manufacturing process. For example, cotton scraps are gathered from the cutting-room floor and re-spun into yarn to make new fabric.
Recyclable - an item that is able to be made into a new product after use.
Reforestation - the act of replanting trees in areas that have been affected by natural disturbances like wildfires and drought, as well as unnatural disturbances such as logging, mining and development. Replanting forests can help to mitigate climate change.
Regenerative Agriculture - a holistic approach to farming and cultivation that focuses on interconnection and the ecological system as a whole, with the goal of improving the environment by increasing things like soil fertility and biodiversity, while improving water quality and quantity.
Social Enterprise - a business that aims to make a profit while working to change the world for the better.
Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. It’s often broken down into three pillars: environmental, economic and social.
Which letters in the Eco-alphabet surprised you?