Reading as a type of understanding activity and its place in the educational process

GLOOSARY
Abiotic Resources
Resources which are considered abiotic and therefore not renewable. Zinc ore and crude oil are examples of abiotic resources.
Ancillary Material
Material that is not used directly in the formation of a product or service.
Auditing
See environmental management system audit.
Biotic Resources
Resources which are considered biotic and therefore renewable. The rainforests and tigers are examples of biotic resources.
By-Product
A useful and marketable product or service that is not the primary product or service being produced. See also co-product.
Certification
The procedure by which third party gives written assurance that a product, process, or service conforms to specific requirements. See also registration.
Characterization
Characterization aggregates classified environmental interventions/aspects within an environmental impact category. This step results in environmental performance indicators.
Characterization Factor
A factor that describes the relative harmfulness of an environmental intervention within one environmental impact category. A factor is a result of modeling environmental effects/problems.
Classification
Classification attributes are environmental interventions/aspects listed in an environmental inventory/environmental effects register according to environmental impact categories.
Close-loop Recycling
A recycling system in which a product made from one type of material is recycled into a different type of product (e.g. used newspapers into toilet paper). The product receiving recycled material itself may or may not be recycled. See also open-loop recycling.
Co-Product
A marketable by-product from a process that can technically not be avoided. This includes materials that may be traditionally defined as waste such as industrial scrap that is subsequently used as a raw material in a different manufacturing process.
Continuous Improvement
The process of enhancing an environmental management system to achieve improvements in overall environmental performance in line with an organization's environmental policy.
Damage
A deterioration in the quality of the environment not directly attributable to depletion or pollution.
Depletion
The result of the extraction of abiotic resources (non-renewable) from the environment or the extraction of biotic resources (renewable) faster than they can be renewed.
Down cycling
See recycling.
Eco-Efficiency
The relationship between economic output (product, service, activity) and environmental impact added caused by production, consumption and disposal.
Emission
One or more substances released to the water, air or soil in the natural environment. See also environmental release, pollution and environmental intervention.
Environment
Surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelations. This definition extends the view from a company focus to the global system.
Environmental Aspects
Elements of an organization's activities, products or services which can interact with the environment (ISO 14004). A significant environmental aspect is an environmental aspect which has or can have a significant environmental impact. See also environmental interventions, environmental problem.
Environmental Effect
Any direct or indirect impingement of activities, products and services of an organization upon the environment, whether adverse or beneficial. An environmental effect is the consequence of an environmental intervention in an environmental system. See also environmental impact, environmental problem.