Going Green: A Glossary of Terms

 When buying organic products – cosmetics, apparel, bedding, bath or even pet products – make sure to check the labels. For all things organic, the label should tell you the product is made without conventional pesticides, insecticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, bio-engineered chemicals and sewage sludge. Here is a list of definitions to help you separate truly green and organic products from the kind whose "green" is only skin deep.

Are Certified Organic Food and Natural Food the same?

No. Look for the U.S.Department of Agriculture "Certified Organic" label to be sure you are getting the real thing. A farm must be free of pesticides and fertilizers for at least three full years before it may quality for organic certification. Organic eggs, meat and dairy products must come from animals that are fed only 100 percent organic feed. In most cases, the rules prohibit severe confinement conditions. The rules also prohibit the use of synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics commonly used in non-organic food production.

The term "natural," on the other hand, has not been defined by the USDA and there are no restrictions on how the term may be used. So, really, anything goes. A maker can call apple sauce natural, even when the apples have been soaked for weeks in insecticides. A gallon jug of "natural" fruit juice can contain just 5 percent fruit juice and 95 percent chemically sweetened water. If you want to learn more about the true organic food label, the best place to start is the USDA Web site, www.usda.com and type "organic" in the search window.

There is sustainable agriculture, sustainable development and sustainable energy. The bottom line is this: A sustainable system will accommodate the basic needs of its inhabitants while preserving the resources that will enable future generations to flourish. Think resource-conserving, environmentally sound and socially responsible behavior. Think water and energy sourcing, for example. Think leaving your world in the same shape (or better) than you found it. Sustainable is a big term. Any term can be massaged into being called sustainable. But few things really are. Check out the Georgia Organics Web site, www.go.com, or join Georgia Organics for a nominal fee. Georgia Organics is a member-supported non-profit organization promoting healthy, sustainable and locally grown food.

What’s the difference in ZERO-VOC vs. Low-VOC or LOW-Impact Paint?

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. Volatile Organic Compounds and carcinogenic toxins such as formaldehydes are released from paint while it is being applied and long after it has dried. This process is called off-gassing. The fumes you smell when using conventional paint are the VOC’s off-gassing from the paint. And they continue to off-gas after you can no longer smell them. To achieve an Environmental Protection Agency zero-VOC rating, paint must have fewer than five grams of VOCs per liter. For a Low-VOC rating, paint must contain 5-250 grams per liter. Most adults have been exposed to conventional paints all their lives, but if you want the cleanest and safest option for a baby or your family, for example, paint is one of the three most important ways you can make a difference in exposure to carcinogens.

Every product we buy brings up three questions: What were the working conditions where the product was made? Who benefited? Who was harmed? Over the years, international organizations have developed standards to foster better conditions for farmers, artisans, and other small producers. If you want to set aside worries about child labor, environmentally damaging processes, and unsafe work conditions, you now have choices. .

If you are interested in any other green definitions, let us know. We’ll get you the answer.