Biodiversity
Biodiversity describes the variety of all life on Earth, in all its forms, interactions and interconnectedness. It incorporates all habitats and species, both rare and common, and includes genetic diversity within species.
Circular Economy
A model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
Climate Emergency
A declaration made by an organisation committing it to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and detrimental actions affecting the stability of the climate. Without action to help mitigate and reverse the effects of climate change, the impacts will be felt across the country, which will affect our services and our most vulnerable residents.
Cruelty Free
Manufactured and developed by methods which do not harm animals.
Environment Agency Enforcement Actions
Formal cautions and prosecutions carried out by the Environment Agency to enforce laws and permits that protect the environment.
Environmental Maturity
An organisation’s ability to implement more ambitious, complex, robust and resilient environmentally conscious practices. Maturity differs among organisations and industries because of the unique obstacles they each must overcome.
Greenhouse Gases
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect and climate change by absorbing infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons are examples of greenhouse gases.
For simplicity in this policy, we use the term 'carbon' as shorthand for all greenhouse gases.
Natural Capital
Stocks of the elements of nature that have value to society, such as forests, fisheries, rivers, biodiversity, land and minerals. Natural capital includes both the living and non-living aspects of ecosystems.
Net Zero
Achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. This balance will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed. Emissions are removed in line with the latest climate science and 1.5°C trajectory.
Scope 1 Carbon Emissions
Those emissions that an organisation makes directly. For example, emissions from fuel that is directly used while running boilers and vehicles.
Scope 2 Carbon Emissions
Emissions coming indirectly from an organisation. This is mainly the generation and distribution of electricity the organisation buys from the National Grid.
Scope 3 Carbon Emissions
Emissions associated with the goods, works and services that are produced elsewhere but consumed by the organisation. This category includes all the emissions the organisation is indirectly responsible for, up and down its supply chain.
Significant Environmental Incident
An event that would need to be reported to the Environment Agency, or similar national body, or where damage is of a nature or quantity which poses a threat to the health or safety of humans, animals or vegetation that is not expected to dissipate within twenty-four hours either naturally or by human intervention.
Waste Hierarchy
The waste hierarchy ranks waste management options according to what is best for the environment. It gives top priority to preventing waste followed by preparing it for re-use, then recycling, then recovery, and last of all disposal (for example, landfill).