GREEN GLOSSARY
“Wisdom is the capacity to know what we don’t know.” – Paul Hawken

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> Global Warming – The gradual average increase of temperature of the Earth’s near-surface atmosphere that is accelerated by the greenhouse gases emitted by human industry.

> Greenhouse Gas – Certain gases that allow solar radiation to reach Earth’s surface and become absorbed, yet trap thermal radiation leaving the Earth’s surface, heating the atmosphere. Gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and several halogenated carbons that contain fluorine, chlorine and bromine.

> Greenwashing – The process by which a company publicly and misleadingly declares itself to be environmentally friendly but internally participates in environmentally or socially unfriendly practices.

> Hazardous Air Pollutant – Pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects such as birth defects, or that cause adverse environmental and ecological effects. The EPA requires the control of 188 HAP’s, including dioxin, asbestos, cadmium, mercury, lead, and other chemicals and metals. Also called “Toxic Air Pollutants.”

> Indoor Air Pollution – Chemical, physical or biological contaminants in indoor air.

> Industrial Ecology – Manufacturing that addresses environmental needs and works with natural processes. Future utility of products and by-products and avoidance of waste are considered from the beginning (design).

> ISO 14000 – A group of standards and guidelines by the International Standards Organization (ISO) that address environmental issues. Includes standards for Environmental Management Systems, environmental auditing, labeling, performance evaluation, and lifecycle assessment.

MTS Seating makes every effort to avoid “greenwashing” by complying with the Federal Trade Commission’s Part 260 Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims. Please feel free to contact Jennifer White, Sustainability Coordinator, or Dave Dimmer, Marketing Manager, with any questions or feedback.