Search List of GreenNY Purchasing Definitions
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
This list includes all sustainable purchasing definitions in the GreenNY specifications. Each GreenNY specification includes the applicable definitions for that product or service.
| GreenNY Purchasing Definitions |
|---|
| Active Ingredient – A pesticidal chemical in a disinfecting or sanitizing solution that is responsible for killing one or more types of bacteria, viruses or fungi. |
| ADA Accessibility - the specific design and construction standards established under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 — a federal civil rights law ensuring people with disabilities have equal access to public spaces, facilities, and products. |
| Aerosol Container – A liquefied or compressed gas that is used in whole or part, such as a cosolvent, to expel a liquid or other material from the same self-pressurized container or from a separate container. |
| Asbestos - A mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or asbestosis when inhaled. |
| Biodegradable – The ability of a product or material to break down in the environment under normal conditions with no specified timeframe. Residues may be left behind. GreenNY specifications restrict the use of the term biodegradable on products and packaging unless the claim is verified. |
| Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) – A chemical wood preservative that contains chromium, copper, and arsenic that is designed to protect wood from decay and pests like termites. CCA is commonly used to treat dimensional lumber and telephone poles. |
Closed-Loop Dilution-Control System – A system that controls the dilution of a concentrate product so that the undiluted product cannot be practically accessed by users (Green Seal, 2022).
|
| Compostable – The ability of a product or material to undergo biological decomposition in a commercial or municipal compost facility and break down within a specified timeframe into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass suitable for use as a soil amendment, leaving no toxic residue. To be considered compostable per the GreenNY specifications, a product must be certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), or an equivalent certifier approved by the State. |
| Creosote – Creosote is the generic term for a variety of wood preservatives that come from the high-temperature treatment of wood and coal tar. Pesticide products containing creosote as the active ingredient are used to protect against termites, fungi, mites, and other pests that can degrade or threaten the integrity of wood products. Creosote is a persistent chemical that accumulates in the environment and poses health risks such as cancer and reproductive impairment. |
| dBA – A-weighted decibels (dBA) are a measure of sound level. It is an adjusted form of decibels (dB) that reflects how the human ear perceives sound. |
| Disposable – A product designed to be discarded after one use and is not intended to be washed or laundered. |
| Duplex Printing – The practice of printing on both sides of a piece of paper. |
| Dye-Free – A product that does not contain chemicals that impart color. |
| Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – A standardized report that discloses chemical contents and environmental impacts over the life cycle of a product to enable comparisons between products fulfilling the same function. |
| Fragrance-Free – The absence of chemicals in a product that impart or counteract an odor or scent. This is different than “unscented,” which means a product has no scent, but may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask the odors of other ingredients. |
| Global warming potential (GWP) – A metric that measures the ability of gases to trap heat in the atmosphere by measuring how much energy the emission of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emission of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). The larger the GWP, the more that a given gas warms the Earth compared to CO2 over that time period. |
| Halogenated Chemical - Any chemical that contains one or more halogen elements, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. |
| Health Product Declaration (HPD) – A standardized report that discloses the chemical contents and health impacts over the life cycle of a product to enable comparisons between products fulfilling the same function. |
| Launderable – The ability for a product to be washed or “laundered” in a washing machine. |
| Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) – The company that produces replaceable components for a product they produce. For example, a filter from the OEM is produced by the same company that manufactured the air purifier. Using OEM components ensures the proper operation and efficiency of the product. |
| Oxo-Degradable Plastics – Plastics that contain additives that allow them to fragment into small pieces when exposed to oxygen. However, the pieces may not completely break down, becoming microplastics that could contaminate the environment. |
| Pentachlorophenol (PCP) – A persistent chemical used as an industrial pesticide and wood preservative commonly used to treat utility poles and cross arms. |
| Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – A class of persistent fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. They are used to make products water-repellant, grease-resistant, and/or heat tolerant. PFAS have been found in a wide array of consumer and institutional products, including non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpet and furniture, waterproof clothing, compostable food service ware, firefighting foam, refrigerants, artificial turf, building materials, and more. |
| Plastic Composite - Material composed of plastic resin and at least one other material including but not limited to wood, sawdust and fiberglass. |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – A type of plastic (also called “vinyl” or #3 plastic) made up of vinyl chloride molecules linked together. Vinyl chloride is classified as a reasonably anticipated human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). Additives commonly found in PVC include, but are not limited to, plasticizers (e.g., phthalates) and heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium). PVC is commonly found in packaging, carpeting and flooring, building materials, medical equipment, office supplies, food service ware, and more. |
| Post-Consumer Recycled Content (PCRC) – A material that has served its intended use and has been collected in a municipal or commercial recycling program and incorporated into new materials or products. PCRC does not include pre-consumer recycled content (also referred to as post-industrial recycled content), which is material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. |
| Processed Chlorine Free – Products (e.g., recycled paper) that have not been bleached with chlorine or chlorine derivatives. |
| Rechargeable Battery - A battery that can be reused (typically hundreds of times) once its energy content has been depleted by being recharged in a charger. |
| Reclaimed Textiles – Garments, fabrics, and other textile materials that are repurposed, reused, or recycled, offering numerous environmental benefits. The practice of reclaiming involves finding new life for materials that might otherwise be discarded, reducing the demand for new resources and minimizing waste. |
| Recyclable – A product is generally considered recyclable if it is accepted for collection by a municipal or commercial curbside recycling program or by a manufacturer or vendor takeback program. |
| Refillable – A product that is designed to be reused by replacing or refilling its contents. |
| Refrigerants – Substances that cool or heat and are often used in refrigeration and HVAC equipment. Many fluorinated refrigerants are harmful atmospheric pollutants that have a high global warming potential. Ultra-low GWP refrigerants have a GWP of 10 or less. They include, but are not limited to, R-290 (propane), R-600a (isobutane), and R-441a (a blend of ethane, propane, butane, and isobutane). Ultra-low GWP refrigerants meet the US Environmental Protection Agency’s refrigerant regulations and New York State’s GWP limit for many types of refrigerant-using equipment adopted under the NYS Part 494 "Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting" Regulation. |
| Remanufactured Product – A product that has been diverted from the solid waste stream, dissembled, cleaned and restored to its original OEM performance and function. This process should be designed to retain, to the extent practicable, components that have been through at least one life cycle, and to replace any worn, damaged or end-of-life components. All components used in the construction of remanufactured products must equal OEM performance and function. |
| Replaceable Battery – The battery can be removed from the product and there are replacement batteries available to purchase. |
| Synthetic – Man made substances and materials created through chemical processes, such as plastics. |
| Takeback Program – An initiative where a manufacturer or retailer collects and recycles products and/or packaging at the end of their useful lives. Takeback programs can be voluntary or mandated by legislation. |
| Total Recycled Content (TRC) – The sum of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content. |
| Virus – A microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of an organism. |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Compounds that have high vapor pressure, low water solubility, and readily turn into gas at room temperature. Common VOCs include solvents that are used in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs are emitted as gases and are common ground-water contaminants. |