Understanding Sustainability Terms and What to Watch Out For

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in a shop aisle, holding a product labelled “eco-friendly” or “biodegradable,” and thinking, but what does that really mean?, you’re not alone. We are surrounded by a variety of sustainability terms these days, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it can be a little confusing.

When everyone from big-name brands to start-ups is shouting about being “green,” we need to understand what those words mean so we can make conscious, informed choices and avoid being misled! Here’s a breakdown of the most common sustainability terms or “buzzwords” and what they really mean.

Sustainability

Sustainability means achieving the right balance between people, planet, and economy while creating long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. It is all about meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Ethical

An ethical product or company considers the wider impact of its actions on people, animals, and the planet. This might mean paying workers fairly, avoiding exploitative practices, using cruelty-free ingredients, or sourcing materials responsibly. It’s about doing what’s right… Even when it’s not always the easiest or cheapest option.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly simply means something that’s not harmful to the environment. It is a common buzzword and one many of us are immediately drawn to and rightly so, but… There’s no legal definition or standard to adhere to, which means companies can use it quite loosely. Whenever I see it, I always ask: How? What makes it eco-friendly? Is it reusable? Is it made from sustainable materials? Will it last? Sometimes you have to take a deeper dive just to ensure that you aren’t getting the wool pulled over your eyes (see further down for greenwashing).

Eco Living

Eco living is about making everyday choices that help to support the planet. It’s not about being perfect (believe me!) It’s just about being mindful and trying your best. Choosing to reuse rather than buy new, reducing waste wherever possible, cutting down on energy use, and saying no to single-use items. I always say: start small, find out what works for your lifestyle and be consistent. It’s not about doing everything, but doing something. Say it with me: “Eco-perfection does not exist!”

Biodegradable

This is a term I think we really need to talk way more about. In short, biodegradable means that a material will break down naturally over time, thanks to bacteria and other organisms. Sounds great, right? Well… What isn’t clearly stated is that the only tests a product has to pass in order to be labelled as biodegradable are those set up in controlled laboratory conditions, not real-world conditions. So, for example, if you dropped a load of “biodegradable” confetti on a street, it is not going to go anywhere fast (well, except when the wind blows it about). Sitting on top of a hard, man-made surface will prevent anything from biodegrading. The same goes for landfill. Sending a biodegradable item to sit in a landfill, amongst plastic bags, rotting food, surrounded by a large mixture of other materials with little oxygen, will just keep it intact for many years to come. The ideal conditions required for this process to take place would match those found in a compost bin, where the warmth, bacteria, and correct mix of browns and greens will all aid in speeding up that breakdown.

So, biodegradable and compostable are the same thing, then?

No. They are different and I will cover compostable next but to end this section I am going to say that the reason a company cannot label a product as compostable is because they would require certification to prove that it will leave no trace, meaning biodegradable can and will (not always but without those tests and certificates, we won’t know which will and which won’t). This is why using this label isn’t as green as many brands try to make out.

Compostable

Compostable products will break down into natural elements and leave no toxins behind. Making them a really safe, green option. You will, however, need to check if the item is ok for home composting or if it needs to go to industrial composting facilities – these reach far higher temperatures to ensure the item fully breaks down.

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Degradable

Degradable is often used as a halfway point between traditional plastic and biodegradable materials. These items break down into smaller pieces over time, but they don’t disappear. For example, a plastic bottle is degradable, it will just take around 500 years and become microplastics. So, although the word sounds positive, it’s not the same as being safe or environmentally friendly.

Recyclable

Recyclable means it can be recycled. Whether that something gets recycled depends highly on how you dispose of it, the material, the services that your local recycling facilities provide, and whether it’s been contaminated (for example, greasy pizza boxes can’t be recycled). There is a lot of debate over how many services actually follow through with recycling our packaging (soft plastics are a big talking point), but as I always say, we can only do our best and if you can pick a reusable item over one that needs recycling, then that is your better option.

Dissolvable

I have included this word simply because I am repeatedly seeing people believe that biodegradable and dissolvable are the same thing. They are not. A biodegradable item will not wash away or dissolve in the rain.

The simple definition of dissolvable is that it is designed to disappear in water. We often see this in certain medications such as Alka-Seltzer. You drop one into a glass of water, it fizzes and breaks down for you to easily drink. In sustainability, we now have products such as cleaning pods, laundry sheets, eco dishwasher tablets, etc, that will all dissolve in water to make them work. These are all great for reducing waste, but (sorry, yes there’s a but) it’s still worth asking what’s in the ingredients so you know what is being released into the water system.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the term we use when companies use misleading or vague language to appear more eco-friendly than they really are. This might look like slapping “natural” or “sustainable” on a label with the use of soft fonts, trees, plants and green colours with no explanation or proof. As consumers, we need to be curious. If a brand can’t back up its claims with facts or transparency, it’s worth questioning what they’re really selling.

Conservation

Conservation is about surveying, protecting and sustaining the natural world – wildlife, forests, oceans, and the biodiversity that supports all life on Earth.

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Environmentalism

Environmentalism is the broader movement that pushes for political, cultural, and systemic change to protect the planet. It’s about speaking up, pushing for better policies, holding corporations accountable, and working together for long-term solutions. Whether we’re raising awareness online, joining local groups, signing petitions, going to protests or making changes in our own homes, we’re all part of that change.

Intersectional Environmentalism

This is an important one. Intersectional environmentalism recognises that environmental issues don’t affect everyone equally. We are seeing more than ever that climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation are hitting marginalised communities the hardest and yet they are least responsible. It also acknowledges that social justice and environmental justice go hand in hand. If we’re fighting for a greener future, we also need to fight for fairness, equity, and inclusion.

I can promise you that sustainability isn’t complicated, but unfortunately, it can certainly feel it at times, especially when these terms are overly used and when companies are trying to greenwash us. The key things you can do are trust your instincts, do your research, question a lot of things, shop small and shop eco businesses as much as you can, try to reuse as much as you can and help to educate others. We CAN make a difference with our actions and even more so with where our money goes.

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