Definitions

Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP): A product that has a lesser or reduced negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal of the product. This term includes recyclable products, recycled products, and reusable products.

Energy Star: A voluntary partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities, and retailers. Partners help promote efficient products by labeling with the Energy Star® logo and educating consumer about the benefits of energy efficiency.

Life Cycle Analysis: The comprehensive examination of a product's environmental and economic effects throughout its lifetime, including new material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use, and disposal.

Practicable: Satisfactory in performance and available at a fair and reasonable price.

Post-consumer Content: The percentage of materials collected from end-users and recycled into the new product.

Products with Recycled Content: Recycled content products contain "recovered materials" or "postconsumer materials" or both. "Recovered materials" means materials that have been removed or diverted from solid waste - in other words, trash - including solid waste created by manufacturers. "Postconsumer materials" are materials that we discard at home and at work that are separated or diverted for recycling instead of going to a landfill.

Recyclable Product: A product that, after its intended end use, can be demonstrably diverted from the University's solid waste stream for use as a raw material in the manufacture of another product, preferably higher value uses.

Reusable Product: A product, such as a washable food or beverage container or a refillable ballpoint pen, that can be used several times for an intended use before being discarded.

 

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