Sustainability Glossary

Carbon footprint
The total amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by an individual, event, organization, service, or product

Circular design
An approach that prioritizes circular economy principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural ecosystems. Designers start considering each future stage of a product from the start. Products are reimagined to keep them in use as long as possible.

Circular economy
A system designed to keep products in use for as long as possible, maximizing their value and extending their life cycle. It aims to reduce the use of new raw materials and promote the reuse of products, including the recapturing of materials for use in different forms, so that the cycle has no wasteful end.

Circularity
The practice of designing products and systems that maintain continuous use of resources through reuse, recycling, and regeneration.

Common Materials Framework
Sustainability roadmap developed by mindful MATERIALS to provide a common language and structure for evaluating the sustainability of building materials. The different aspects of sustainability are divided into five impact areas: human health, climate health, ecosystem health, social health and equity, and circular economy

Cradle to Cradle
A term used to describe a product if a new use can be applied to it after the end of its first useful life, diverting it from a landfill. This concept is based on 3 nature-inspired principles:

1.      Everything becomes a resource for something else

2.      Nothing is wasted

3.      Everything to be designed to be disassembled and returned to soil or industry

Decarbonization
The process of reducing carbon emissions across operations, supply chains, and products.

Ecological footprint
This compares the rate at which we consume natural resources and generate waste and greenhouse gases (GHG) with nature’s ability to absorb waste, sequester greenhouse gases, and produce new natural resources. This is broader than the scope of a carbon footprint, as it includes water and energy consumption.

Embodied carbon
The carbon footprint associated with upstream production, from material extraction through manufacturing.

Ergonomic
Designed for efficiency, safety, and comfort to support human well-being at work.

ESG
Environmental, Social, and Governance — a framework for measuring a company’s sustainability and ethical impact.

Green-guard certified
Indicates/demonstrates compliance with chemical emission standards and a commitment to healthier indoor environments, driving trust among healthy and safety focused customers

Hydro-Renewable Energy

Sustainable energy is generated from moving water, such as rivers or dams, to produce electricity.

Net Energy Positive

A product, building, or process that generates more energy than it consumes over its lifetime.

PFAS
A group of over 10,000 man-made substances known as “forever chemicals” due to their longevity and resistance to disintegration causing long and short term environmental and health risks

Product lifecycle
The full range of stages in a product’s lifetime from raw material extraction and processing to product manufacturing and transportation, and on to use, reuse, and the end of its functionality.

Reconditioning
Restoring used furniture or equipment to good working condition through cleaning, repairing, and minor updates.

Recycle
The action or process of converting waste into usable material

Refurbishment
The process of repairing or revitalizing products without disassembly or replacement of key components. This includes refinishing, reupholstery, deep cleaning, or sanitizing.

Remanufacturing
A process that restores and extends value of a product by disassembling then rebuilding it to like-new condition.

Renewable energy
Sources of energy that can be replenished by nature within the human timescale (ex., solar, hydro, and geothermal)

Reuse
Repeatedly using products and materials for their intended purpose, with modifications limited to steps such as cleaning and other minor adjustments

Sustainable decommissioning
The process of disassembling and removing workstations and other existing furniture to mitigate environmental impact (asset disposition)

Take-make-waste model
A traditional linear approach to production where resources are extracted, products are made and used, then discarded as waste.

Task seating
The primary employee chair typically swivels and may be adjustable by the user