Glossary

The terms below are used throughout the site.

"100% Organic" Product

Must contain only organically produced ingredients and processing aids (excluding water and salt). Cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. The USDA 100% organic seal verifies that no irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, and genetically modified organisms were used for crops. For livestock, the seal verifies that producers met animal health and welfare standards, did not use antibiotics or growth hormones, used 100% organic feed, and provided animals with access to the outdoors.

Aerator (faucet)

A device installed at the nozzle end of a facuet that introduces air into the water stream, thereby substantially reducing the water flow.

Biodegradable

Capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions, either aerobic or nonaerobic.

Cage-free

This label indicates that instead of being caged in chicken coops, the flock is able to freely roam a building, room, or enclosed area, with unlimited access to food and fresh water during their production cycle.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting/Bulb (CFL)

A type of fluorescent light bulb that screws into a standard light bulb socket or plugs into a small lightening fixture. CFLs generally have a longer-rated life than traditional light bulbs.

Connectionless steamer

A traditional steamer oven that uses water only as needed as opposed to using a continuous flow of water.

Dual- or triple-paned windows

Windows made with two (or three) sheets of glass for additional insulation.

Free-range

This label indicates that the flock was provided shelter in a building, room, or area with unlimited access to food, fresh water, and continuous access to the outdoors during their production cycle. The outdoor area may or may not be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material. The USDA regulates this label.

Grass-fed

Grass-fed animals receive a majority of their nutrients from grass throughout their life, while organic animals' pasture diet may be supplemented with grain. Also USDA regulated, the grass-fed label does not limit the use of antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides. Meat products may be labeled as grass-fed organic.

Humane

Multiple labeling programs, such as the American Humane Certified, Animal Welfare Approved, and Certified Humane Raised and Handled, monitor that animals are treated humanely during the production cycle, but the verification of these activities varies widely. These labeling programs are not currently regulated.

Incandescent light

A traditional light bulb that uses a heated filament to produce light.

LED

A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light when electrically biased in the forward direction. Typically, LEDs are associated with two-prong connectors.

LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED is a division of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Low-flow toilets

Toilets designed to use 1.6 gallons per flush.

"Made with Organic Ingredients"

Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel. These products cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation. The percentage of organic content and the certifying agent seal or mark may be used on the principal display panel. However, the USDA seal cannot be used.

Natural

As required by USDA, meat, poultry, and egg products labeled as "natural" must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products. There are no standards or regulations for the labeling of natural food products if they do not contain meat or eggs.

"Organic" Ingredients in Processed products

Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term organic anywhere on the principal display panel. However, they may identify the specific ingredients that are organically produced on the ingredients statement on the information panel.

Organic Product

Must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Any remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National List including specific non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form. Cannot be produced using excluded methods, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation.

Pasture-raised

Due to the number of variables involved in pasture-raised agricultural systems, the USDA has not developed a labeling policy for pasture-raised products.

Pre-rinse spray valve

A valve commonly used in restaurants to wash down dishes prior to their placement in a dishwashing system.

Recycled content

The amount of pre- and post-consumer recovered material introduced as feed stock in a material production process (particularly common with paper) and usually expressed as a percentage (e.g., 30 percent post-consumer recycled content).

Unbleached

Paper products that are not bleached using chlorine and typically are brown in color.

Waterless urinal

A men's urinal that uses no water, and instead typically uses a trap system that eliminates the need for flushing.