Natural Living Glossary

Bamboo:

A fast growing grass. It is considered to be an environmentally friendly plant as it grows naturally without the use of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. It has a vast root system that helps to prevent soil erosion and improve soil quality. It also absorbs more carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen than other similar-size trees. When used as textile, it is smooth with a sheen, breathable, and easy to care. There are various manufacturing processes for converting bamboo into textile, some of which are harmful to the environment. Consumers need to select carefully.

Certified Organic:

Items are grown and handled according to organic standards. Certification is conducted by accredited private businesses or state agencies.

Certified Lumber:

Certification enables consumers to support responsible forestry and provides forest owners with an incentive to maintain and improve forest management practice. There are only a few legitimate certification groups for sustainably harvested materials, one such being the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certification program.

Fair Trade:

A trading partnership which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers by providing better trading conditions. The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is a global organization which operates in 5 regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America and the Pacific Rim. The goal is to eradicate poverty through sustainable economic development; pioneering social and environmental policy and practice and continual reinvestment in marginalised artisans, farmers and producer communities in some of the most fragile places on earth. It does this by delivering market access through policy, advocacy, campaigning, marketing and monitoring.

Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC):

An independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry. The FSC Principles and Criteria describe how the forests have to be managed to meet the social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations. A summary of the principles are:
  • Prohibit conversion of forests or any other natural habitat
  • Respect of international workers rights
  • Respect of Human Rights with particular attention to indigenous peoples
  • Prohibit the use of hazardous chemicals
  • No corruption – follow all applicable laws
  • Identification and appropriate management of areas that need special protection (e.g. cultural or sacred sites, habitat of endangered animals or plants)

Hemp:

A fast growing plant. It is considered as environmentally-friendly as it requires little or no pesticide or herbicide. It contains virtually no THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and therefore, cannot be used as a drug. Hemp can be used to make paper, clothing, cereal, fuel, rope, etc.

Natural Fibers:

There are three types of natural fibers -- vegetable, animal and mineral. Examples of those of vegetable origin include flax, hemp, cotton and kapok. Examples of those of animal origin include cashmere, silk and wool.

Organic:

Agricultural products, which include food and fiber, produced under the rules of the Organic Food Production Act. The primary goal is to optimize the health and productivity of soil life, plants, animals and people by using natural methods of fertilization and pest control. The National Organic Program is responsible for developing, implementing and administering the standards. General criteria are:
  • Avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc), genetically modified organisms, irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge
  • Use of farmland that has been free from chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
  • Keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail)
  • Maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products
  • Undergoing periodic on-site inspections.

Organic Trade Association (OTA):

A membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. Its mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. OTA represents businesses across the organic supply chain and addresses all things organic, including food, fiber/textiles, personal care products

Reclaimed Wood:

Wood savaged from existing sources, such as ruins of vintage buildings or fallen trees

SKAL:

Skal is an accredited inspection and certification body for organic production in the Netherlands.

Sustainably Harvested:

Materials or resources harvested in a manner which ensures future harvests and results in significantly less negative environmental impact. Some examples are shade grown coffee, certified lumber, bamboo, cork, hemp and wool.

Toxic Chemicals:

Many of the seemingly harmless products we use everyday contain toxic chemicals such as benzene, ammonia, formaldehyde, toluene, ozone & many others.