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Technical Glossary
This glossary of terms is arranged in alphabetical order. We've tried to define the terms as simply and clearly as possible, with links to further references as appropriate. We hope you find this section useful and informative.
Benchmarking
Process of identifying, evaluating and adapting enhanced practices and processes in an organisation with the ultimate goal of achieving superior performance. Benchmarking is used extensively in both the private and public sector. Types of benchmarking include process, financial, performance, product, strategic and functional.
Capacity
Combination of competencies, capabilities, knowledge, networking opportunities and motivations that are required to create value. Some of the primary elements of capacity include foundational components (financial resources, structure, information, culture, location and values), competencies (skills, behaviours, motivations, influence and abilities of individuals) and capabilities (broad range of collective skills that can be both hard and soft).
Capacity building
Iterative process that incorporates the building of frameworks, work cultures, policies, processes and systems enabling an organisation to improve performance to achieve successful outcomes. During the process, it is essential to take a user perspective, therefore training, or building capacity in individuals is an integral part.
Carbon footprint
‘Measurement of the exclusive global amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted by a human activity or accumulated over the full life cycle of a product or service’ (Wiedmann and Minx, 2008).
The carbon footprint is measured in units of tonnes (or kg) of CO2 equivalent. Measuring the carbon footprint allow businesses to conceptualise their organisational impact in contributing to global warming.
For further information on Carbon Footprint, please see:
http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Standards-and-Publications/Industry-Sectors/Energy/PAS-2050/
http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Carbon_footprint.pdf
http://www.bestfootforward.com
Cradle to Cradle Design (C2C)
Framework that seeks to create production techniques that are not just efficient but are essentially waste free. ‘Resources should be part of cyclic systems, so that the quality of processing at the end-of-life is high enough or appropriate enough to feed into new high quality products’ [British Standards Institution, ‘Design output for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life processing (MADE)’. General concepts, process and requirements, BS8887-1:2006 p29].
For further information on C2C, please see: http://www.epea.com/english/cradle/principle.htm
Design Strategy
Business planning process by which design is used as a strategic asset. The design strategy touches every aspect of a company and so it links to the overall business model. It also creates a seamless integration of brand and corporate image.
Ecodesign
Strategic design management process that considers the full environmental and social impacts of products and services. This involves assessing, prioritising and then designing out problems and developing new solutions. Crucially ecodesign can make a direct difference to the bottom line through reducing costs, assisting with legislative compliance, increasing innovation, attracting investment, improving brand position and enhancing business communications.
For further information on ecodesign, please see:
http://www.idsa.org/whatsnew/sections/ecosection/index.html
http://www.ecodesignarc.info
http://esa.un.org/marrakechprocess/issuessusproducts.shtml
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/eco_design/ecodesign.htm
End-of-Life (EoL)
Stage in the life cycle of a product when it becomes obsolete or has reached the end of its useful life.
End-of-Life (EoL) Management
Process that seeks to achieve waste avoidance and resource recovery once a product is discarded.
Energy-Using Products (EuP) Directive
Framework directive 2005/32/EC that provides European Union (EU)-wide rules for eco-design of energy-using products. It aims to improve the environmental performance of products throughout the life cycle, by systematic integration of environmental aspects at a very early stage in the design.
For further information on EuP, please see:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/sustainability/eup/page38894.html
Enterprise
Any entity engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form. This includes, in particular, self-employed persons and family businesses engaged in craft or other activities, and partnerships or associations regularly engaged in an economic activity.
Environmentally Superior Products
Products that provide a maximum performance with a minimum impact on the environment. Functionality, quality, ability to manufacture or cost is never compromised in these products.
Green Logistics
Any management initiative that mitigates the negative impact of freight transport operations on the environment, e.g., reducing size of product packaging to improve vehicle utilisation; integrating and consolidating inventories and/or transport movements of companies in the same industry to reduce their overall logistics cost; selecting greener modes of transport such as rail and water to improve the pro-rata fuel efficiency per unit; and improving fuel efficiency by investing in the development of more efficient vehicle engines and alternative fuels.
Laser Diode Module
An assembly of electrical, mechanical and optical components that includes a laser. Applications of laser diode modules include laser scanning and alignment, laser medical treatments (e.g. ophthalmology), scientific experimentation, optical instrumentation, printing and imaging systems, bar code scanning, optical data storage, optical sensors, etc.
A laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is a source of an intense, coherent, directional beam of optical radiation. A laser is usually composed of an energy source, a resonant cavity, and an active lasing medium.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Analytical tool that examines and calculates the environmental impacts of a product or service over its complete life cycle. The life cycle of a product covers from the extraction of natural resources, through to design, manufacture, assembly, marketing, distribution, sale, use, disposal and re-use.
LCA help businesses evaluate all material and energy inputs and outputs along the entire supply chain or product life cycle.
Low Carbon Technologies
Emerging financial and industrial technologies, which aim to deliver low or zero carbon emissions when fully developed and implemented.
For further information on low carbon technologies, please see: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology
Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation
Chemical regime that extends the European Union chemical law’s scope from chemical substances to products containing chemicals. It focuses on occupational protection, consumer protection, product safety and environmental protection.
REACH places a duty on companies that produce, import and use chemicals above certain thresholds to assess the risks arising from the various applications/uses of these chemicals.
For further information on REACH, please see:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/index_en.htm
http://echa.europa.eu/reach_en.asp
Remanufacture
‘Manufacturing steps acting on an end-of-life part or product in order to return it to like-new or better performance, with warranty to match’ (Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse (CRR), 2007).
For more information on Remanufacturing, please see:
http://www.remanufacturing.org.uk
Resource Efficiency
Using resources such as raw materials, energy and water more efficiently. Businesses need to make better use of their resources and minimise waste to be environmentally and financially sustainable.
For further information on Resource Efficiency, please see:
http://www.resource-efficiency.org
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive
Group of regulations that implement the EU Directive 2002/95 which bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) containing more than the agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.
For further information on the ROHS directive, please see:
http://www.rohs.gov.uk
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME)
There is no universal definition for an SME. The revised definition adopted by The European Commission in 2003 says ‘ The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million Euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million Euro.’ This new definition has been in effect since 1 January 2005.
For further information on the SME definition, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/index_en.htm
Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)
Production and use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimising the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardise the ability to meet the needs of future generations (Norwegian Ministry of Environment, Oslo Symposium, 1994).
For further information on SCP, please see:
http://www.unep.fr/scp/
http://esa.un.org/marrakechprocess/index.shtml
Sustainable Development (SD)
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission, 1987). The UK Government, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Administration have agreed upon a set of principles that provide a basis for SD policy in the UK.
For further information on SD in the UK, please see:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/what/index.htm
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
This legislation provides for the creation of collection schemes where consumers return their used electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) waste, often termed e-waste, free of charge. The objective of these schemes is to increase the recycling and/or re-use of such products. It also requires heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) to be substituted by safer alternatives.
For further information on the WEEE directive, please see:
http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/topics/WEEE/default.aspx
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
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