GECON
Gecon Glossary
reduce
reducing needless consumption is the first step in the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle).
reuse
The reuse principle serves as a reminder that not all used products are fit for disposal. By looking for new ways to use them, you can cut down on waste and help protect the planet.
recycle
the three R’s concludes with recycle. Products that would otherwise be thrown away can be recycled for their materials and put to good use.
THE THREE R'S
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
In other words, don’t buy things you don’t need, use them again or more than once, and reprocess waste into things you can use again.
The three R’s explains proper waste management. Reducing waste generation has the highest priority, followed by reusing, and then recycling, in order to restrict as much as possible the need for new raw materials in the production of new products.
UPCYCLING
known as the superior type of recycling, upcycling involves the treatment of secondary raw materials in a way that creates something with a higher value than the original input resources. Upcycling is the reverse of downcycling, which is the process of converting secondary raw materials into a less valuable output, such as converting waste paper into toilet paper. This increases the value of waste, allowing it to be employed in “higher level” products, e.g. electronics made from secondary raw materials.
DOWNCYCLING
the process of converting secondary raw materials into a less valuable output, such as converting waste paper into toilet paper.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Sustainable materials management (SMM) is a systematic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. It represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By examining how materials are used throughout their life cycle, an SMM approach seeks to:
- Use materials in the most productive way with an emphasis on using less.
- Reduce toxic chemicals and environmental impacts throughout the material life cycle.
- Assure we have sufficient resources to meet today’s needs and those of the future.
THE 6RS
the 6Rs promote an ethical and conscious lifestyle by limiting consumption and waste generation. “6R” is an acronym derived from the first letters of six English words: “rethink,” “redesign,” “reuse,” “repurpose,” “revalidate,” and “recycle.”
CIRCULAR ECONOMY (CE)
the 6Rs promote an ethical and conscious lifestyle by limiting consumption and waste generation. “6R” is an acronym derived from the first letters of six English words: “rethink,” “redesign,” “reuse,” “repurpose,” “revalidate,” and “recycle.”
RE-COMMERCE
the online selling of used goods, particularly clothing and electronics, as well as games, books, jewellery, and furniture.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced either directly or indirectly by an individual, group, event, or product. It is a type of ecological footprint. A carbon footprint contains carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions represented in CO₂ equivalent.
ESG
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance; an acronym for metrics based on non-financial ratings of states, businesses, and other organizations. They are made up of 3 components: E (Environment), S (Social Responsibility), and G (Corporate Governance).
CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility. A theory that states that when developing a strategy, businesses consider social interests, environmental protection, and their relations with multiple stakeholder groups.