Search List of GreenNY Purchasing Definitions
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 |
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| 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. |
| 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. |
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).
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| 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. |
| 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 – Means products that do not contain chemicals that impart color. |
| Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – A report that quantifies environmental information over the life cycle of a product to enable comparisons of environmental impacts 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. |
| Halogenated Chemical - Any chemical that contains one or more halogen elements, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. |
| Launderable – The ability for a product to be washed or “laundered” in a washing machine. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |