Reference
The Green Kitchen Glossary
Plain-language definitions for the eco and zero-waste terms you will run into across our reviews and guides.
B
Bagasse
A compostable material made from sugarcane fiber left over after juice extraction, often used for plates and takeout containers.
Bamboo
A fast-growing grass that regenerates in a few years, prized as a renewable alternative to plastic and slow-growing hardwoods.
Biodegradable
Capable of being broken down by microorganisms over time, though the rate and required conditions vary considerably between materials.
BPA-Free
Made without bisphenol A, a chemical used in some plastics that research has linked to hormonal effects.
Borosilicate Glass
A durable glass with high resistance to thermal shock, allowing it to move between freezer and oven with less risk of cracking.
C
Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a product, person, or activity.
Circular Economy
An economic model that keeps materials in use through reuse, repair, and recycling rather than discarding them after one life.
Compostable
Able to break down into nutrient-rich soil under composting conditions, leaving no toxic residue behind.
Composting
The managed process of letting organic matter decompose into a soil-enriching material instead of sending it to landfill.
D
Downcycling
Recycling a material into a product of lower quality or value, a common fate for many plastics.
F
Food Miles
The distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is eaten, used as a rough proxy for transport emissions.
Food Waste
Edible food that is discarded uneaten, a major source of both wasted money and landfill methane.
G
Greenwashing
Marketing that overstates or fabricates the environmental benefits of a product to appear more sustainable than it is.
L
Landfill
A site where waste is buried; materials there break down slowly and can release methane and leachate.
Lifecycle Assessment
A method of evaluating a product’s total environmental impact from raw material sourcing through disposal.
M
Microplastics
Tiny plastic particles shed by degrading plastic items that accumulate in water, soil, and food chains.
Mineral Oil (Food-Grade)
A food-safe oil used to season and seal wooden and bamboo kitchenware, protecting it from moisture and cracking.
P
PFAS
A class of long-lasting synthetic chemicals, sometimes called forever chemicals, found in some nonstick and stain-resistant products.
Plastic-Free
Describing products or routines that avoid plastic entirely in favor of materials like glass, metal, wood, or cloth.
R
Recyclable
Able to be processed and remade into new products, though actual recycling depends on local facilities and demand.
Reusable
Designed to be used many times rather than once, lowering per-use cost and waste over its lifespan.
S
Silicone
A flexible, heat-stable material used for utensils and lids that resists melting and protects nonstick cookware.
Single-Use
Designed to be used once and discarded, the defining trait of the disposable products zero-waste living seeks to replace.
Stainless Steel
A corrosion-resistant alloy of steel, chromium, and often nickel, valued for durable, long-lived kitchenware.
U
Upcycling
Repurposing waste or unwanted items into products of equal or greater value and quality.
V
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds released as gases from some cleaners and materials, which can affect indoor air quality.
Z
Zero Waste (5R)
A philosophy built on refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot, applied in that order to minimize landfill waste.