Page 146 - CFA_SG25

GLOSSARY

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR EPR FROM YOUR EPD!

This is the revamped and updated version of our popular annual Glossary – your guide to some of the
terminology used around the sustainability topic. We appreciate that, while the fundamentals of climate
change may be relatively straightforward, the science behind it is not, and the acronyms and jargon
associated with our efforts to deal with it can sometimes seem designed to confuse further. We’ve pulled
together some of the terminology, acronyms and jargon that you are likely to come across, as you work to
collaborate with others to bring environmental improvements in your own business.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – BNG makes CISUFLO (Circular Sustainable Cradle to grave – the principle that the
sure development has a measurably positive Floorcoverings) – A collaborative European originator of a product is responsible for
impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared project which is working on new technologies a product right the way from its creation
to what was there before development. and products to improve materials’ recovery through to its disposal. This is therefore the
There are now regulations in place by which and drive the flooring sector in Europe principle that underlies end-of-life recovery
developers must deliver a biodiversity net towards a circular economy. The overall goal schemes.
gain of 10%. From April last year a BNG of is to minimise the environmental impact of https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/
10% has been required for small sites and the flooring sector, by setting up a systemic Cradle-to-grave
this will come in for nationally significant framework for circular and sustainable floor
infrastructure projects from November coverings taking into account both technical
this year. feasibility and socio-economic factors. The Embodied carbon – the CO₂ emissions
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ CFA is one of four trade association partners. associated with materials and construction
biodiversity-net-gain The project is due to culminate with the processes throughout the whole lifecycle
publication of a final report in June this year. of a product or building. It includes any CO₂
https://www.cisuflo.eu created during the manufacturing of building
BREEAM – the Building Research materials (material extraction, transport to
Establishment’s Environmental Assessment manufacturer, manufacturing), the transport
146 Method was the world’s first sustainability Climate Change Act – The UK passed its of those materials to the job site, and the
rating scheme for the built environment and Climate Change Act in 2008, and was the construction practices used.
has contributed much to the strong focus in first country to do so. The Act aspired to an https://ukgbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/
the UK on sustainability in building design, 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. 02/operational-and-embodied-carbon-1.pdf
construction and use. A BREEAM assessment In 2019 this was changed to 100% reduction
is voluntary but may be required for some by 2050, compared to 1990.
planning approvals. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ EPD – an Environmental Product Declaration
https://www.breeam.com ukpga/2008/27/contents is a report which provides a ‘life cycle’
description of a product, focussing on
its environmental impact. They are now
Carbon neutral – Carbon neutrality means Co2nstruct Zero – the Construction increasingly common, and expected,
having a balance between emitting carbon Leadership Council’s response to the within the flooring industry. EPDs fit within
and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Government’s Green Industrial Revolution an international EPD system which itself
This matters because carbon dioxide (CO₂) proposals set out in November 2020. The operates within ISO and EN standards. EPDs
is the major greenhouse gas (causes global Co2nstruct Zero programme includes nine are logged on an international website.
warming). Deforestation and any burning of priorities, covering Transport, Buildings and https://www.environdec.com
fossil fuels (as in transport or manufacturing) Construction Activity.
releases CO₂ into the atmosphere. The https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.
UN’s main climate goal is to reach carbon co.uk/workstream/co2nstructzero/ EPR for Packaging – Following a delay,
neutrality by 2050, in order to limit Extended Producer Responsibility for
temperature rise to 1.5C. packaging (EPR) will be introduced this
year. It moves the full cost of dealing with
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/ COP – these are meetings of the packaging waste on to the packaging
articles/2020-12-11/carbon-neutrality-2050- ‘Conference of the Parties’ to the United producers, applying a ‘polluter pays principle’
the-world’s-most-urgent-mission
Nations Framework Convention on Climate and making producers responsible for the
Change (UNFCCC). The most recent was held costs of their packaging throughout its
in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024. The life cycle. This is intended to encourage
Circular economy – the concept of keeping next, COP30, will be held in Belém, Brazil, in producers to reduce their use of packaging
materials within the economy at the highest November this year. and use types of packaging which are easier
level of value for the longest time possible. https://cop30.br/en to recycle. Producers are expected to meet
Although recycling is part of the circular ambitious new recycling targets and use
economy, it also aims to reuse products as clear unambiguous labelling of recyclability to
much as possible, which is why design of assist consumers.
flooring products for reuse is important in our Cradle to cradle – cradle to cradle https://www.gov.uk/guidance/extended-
sector. (C2C) certification is the global standard producer-responsibility-for-packaging-who-is-
https://cfa.org.uk/userfiles/files/Zero%20 for products that are safe, circular and affected-and-what-to-do
responsibly made. Certification is carried out
Avoidable%20Waste%20in%20Flooring%20 by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation
-%20A%20Scoping%20Study.pdf
Institute.
https://c2ccertified.org/the-standard

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26