(Sustainable, Organic, Biodegradable, Recyclable,
Reusable... oh my!)
1) Sustainable:"of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged" (2)
2) Organic: "of or relating to food stuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones; "organic eggs"; "organic vegetables"; "organic chicken"" (3)
"Benefit of organic
Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the planet by reducing the overall exposure to
toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply,
and that are associated with health consequences, from asthma to cancer. Because organic
agriculture doesn't use toxic and persistent pesticides, choosing organic productsan easy way to
help protect yourself."
(4)
3) Biodegradable/ Degradable:
"Biodegradableproducts break down through the action of a naturally occurring microorganism,
such as bacteria, fungi etc. over a period of time.
Degradable plastics are oil based and break down through chemical reactions rather than the
activity of micro-organisms, so they can degrade in an anaerobic environment into water, CO2,
biomass and trace elements." (6)
4) Recyclable: Recycle:" to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: as a:to
process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use" (5)
5) Reusable:: capable of being used again or repeatedly (7) Quality items that are durable,
washable and can be used over and over again may last longer and not have to be replaced as frequently. The longer time span it is reused the less likely it will end up in a landfill! Can the
packaging or container be reused or refilled?
