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Sustainability Glossary: 60 Key Terms & Keywords (2026)

Sustainability has its own language, and it keeps changing. New rules, reporting standards and ideas have arrived since 2024, and getting the words right now matters legally as well as practically.

This glossary explains 60 key sustainability terms in plain English, grouped by theme, with the newest terms marked New.

Sustainability keywords at a glance.

 

1. Core concepts

Sustainability

Meeting today’s needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In business, it means managing environmental, social and economic impacts together.

Sustainable development

Development that improves people’s lives while protecting the natural systems we depend on. It is the idea behind the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Triple bottom line

Judging a business on three results, people, planet and profit, instead of profit alone (Harvard Business School Online).

ESG

Short for environmental, social and governance. A way for investors and companies to assess risks and performance beyond financial results.

Circular economy

An economic system that keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling, designing out waste (Ellen MacArthur Foundation).

Cradle to cradle

A design approach in which every material is chosen so it can safely return to nature or be reused again and again, rather than ending up as waste (Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute).

Doughnut economics

A model developed by economist Kate Raworth that aims to meet the needs of all people within the means of the living planet, between a social foundation and an ecological ceiling (Doughnut Economics Action Lab). Amsterdam was the first city to adopt it. Read our guide to sustainability in Amsterdam.

Planetary boundaries

Nine limits on Earth’s systems within which humanity can safely operate. The Planetary Health Check 2025 found that seven of the nine have now been breached, with ocean acidification crossed for the first time. Only ozone depletion and aerosol loading remain within safe limits (Stockholm Resilience Centre, September 2025).

Degrowth

A movement arguing that wealthy economies should produce and consume less, prioritising wellbeing and fairness over economic growth (Degrowth.info).

Regenerative

Going beyond reducing harm to actively restoring natural and social systems, for example farming that rebuilds soil health.

Green economy

An economy that is low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive (UN Environment Programme).

 

2. Climate and carbon

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere and drive climate change.

Carbon footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person, product, event or organisation, usually measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

The three categories companies use to report emissions. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources a company owns or controls. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the electricity, steam, heating and cooling it buys. Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions across its value chain, upstream and downstream (Carbon Trust).

Net zero

Cutting emissions to a small amount of residual emissions that can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon removal measures. To limit warming to 1.5°C, the UN says emissions must fall 45% by 2030 compared with 2010 levels and reach net zero by 2050 (United Nations).

Carbon neutral

A claim that a product or organisation’s emissions have been balanced, often through offsetting. New: from 27 September 2026, EU rules ban claims that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive climate impact based on offsetting (Bird & Bird).

Carbon offsetting

Paying for emissions reductions or removals elsewhere to compensate for your own emissions. Offsetting doesn’t reduce your own footprint, so it should come after cutting emissions, not instead of it.

Carbon removal

Taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it, whether through nature, such as forests and soils, or technology.

Science-based targets

Emissions reduction targets in line with what climate science says is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C, often validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Decarbonisation

Reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from an activity, sector or economy, for example by switching to renewable energy.

Climate adaptation

Preparing for the effects of climate change that are already happening or expected, such as flooding, heatwaves and drought.

 

3. Nature and biodiversity

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, from genes and species to whole ecosystems.

Nature positive

New to many businesses. A global goal to halt and reverse nature loss, measured from a 2020 baseline, so that nature is showing measurable recovery by 2030 and is fully restored by 2050 (Nature Positive Initiative).

Natural capital

The world’s stocks of natural assets, including soil, air, water and all living things, which provide value to people and the economy (Natural Capital Forum).

Ecosystem services

The benefits people get from nature, such as clean water, pollination, food and climate regulation.

Biodiversity net gain

New. A planning requirement in England. Since 12 February 2024 for major developments and 2 April 2024 for small ones, new developments must deliver at least a 10% gain in biodiversity, managed and monitored for 30 years (Lancashire County Council).

Nature-based solutions

Actions that protect, restore or sustainably manage nature to tackle challenges such as climate change, flooding and biodiversity loss.

Biomimicry

Designing products and systems by learning from nature’s own strategies (Biomimicry Institute).

 

4. People and society

Just transition

Making sure the shift to a low-carbon economy is fair, protecting workers and communities whose jobs and livelihoods depend on high-carbon industries.

Environmental justice

The principle that everyone, regardless of background or income, should be equally protected from environmental harm and have an equal say in environmental decisions.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

A business taking responsibility for its impact on society and the environment, beyond legal requirements.

B Corp

A business certified by the non-profit B Lab, which assesses and verifies a company’s social, environmental and governance impact against the B Lab Standards (B Lab UK).

Tragedy of the commons

The idea that shared resources, such as fisheries or clean air, get overused when individuals act only in their own interest.

Resilience

The ability of a system, whether an ecosystem, community or business, to absorb shocks and adapt to change.

 

5. Marketing and communications

Sustainable marketing

Promoting products, services and ideas in a way that creates lasting value for the business, people and the planet. See our guide to sustainable vs traditional marketing.

Green marketing

Promoting a product’s environmental benefits. Narrower than sustainable marketing, which covers environmental, social and economic impact across the whole business.

Greenwashing

Making misleading claims about environmental performance, whether through vague language, cherry-picked facts or exaggeration. See our guide to how to avoid greenwashing.

Greenhushing

New. When companies under-report or deliberately stay quiet about their environmental goals and achievements, often for fear of scrutiny. A global survey of 1,400 sustainability executives by the consultancy South Pole found that 58% of companies were intentionally reducing their climate communications (Monash Lens, October 2024).

Green claims

Any statement suggesting a product, service or company has a positive or reduced environmental impact. In the UK and EU, green claims must be accurate, specific and backed by evidence.

Generic environmental claim

New. A vague claim such as “eco-friendly”, “green” or “biodegradable”. From 27 September 2026, these are banned in the EU unless the trader can show recognised excellent environmental performance (COSLAW).

Eco-label

A label showing that a product meets certain environmental standards. New: from 27 September 2026, EU rules ban sustainability labels that aren’t based on a recognised certification scheme (same source).

Purpose-driven brand

A brand whose reason for existing goes beyond profit, with a clear social or environmental mission.

Conscious consumer

Someone who considers the social and environmental impact of what they buy.

Impact report

A report showing the social and environmental results an organisation has achieved, ideally with measured, verifiable figures.

 

6. Reporting and regulation

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The 17 goals adopted by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and improve lives by 2030 (United Nations).

Green Claims Code

Guidance from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority on how businesses can make environmental claims without misleading people. New: since 6 April 2025, the CMA can enforce consumer law directly and fine businesses up to 10% of global turnover, including for misleading environmental claims (Fieldfisher).

Anti-greenwashing rule

New. A UK Financial Conduct Authority rule, in force since 31 May 2024, requiring all authorised firms’ sustainability-related claims about their products and services to be fair, clear and not misleading (FCA).

Empowering Consumers Directive

New. EU Directive 2024/825, which applies from 27 September 2026 and bans generic environmental claims, uncertified sustainability labels and offsetting-based climate neutral claims (Bird & Bird).

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

The EU law requiring large companies to report on sustainability. New: in December 2025, the EU agreed to narrow it to companies with more than 1,000 employees and over €450 million in net annual turnover (Rödl & Partner).

Double materiality

Looking at sustainability from two directions: how sustainability issues affect a company’s finances, and how the company affects people and the environment. It is the starting point for CSRD reporting (same source).

TNFD

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, which published its final recommendations in September 2023. It asks organisations to report on their impacts and dependencies on nature and the related risks and opportunities (TNFD).

Ecodesign

Designing products to reduce their environmental impact across their whole life. New: the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) came into force on 18 July 2024, setting a framework for making products more durable, repairable, recyclable and energy-efficient (RPC).

Digital product passport (DPP)

New. A digital record of a product’s sustainability information, introduced under the ESPR. Products covered will need an accurate, complete and up-to-date passport before they can be sold in the EU (same source).

Right to repair

The principle that people should be able to repair the products they own, with access to spare parts, tools and information.

 

7. Digital sustainability

Digital carbon footprint

The emissions caused by digital activity, from data centres and networks to devices. The ITU estimates the ICT sector accounts for 1.5% to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions (ITU). See our guide to reducing your digital carbon footprint.

Green AI

New. Using artificial intelligence in ways that limit its energy and environmental impact. The International Energy Agency expects data centre electricity use to more than double from around 415 TWh in 2024 to around 945 TWh by 2030, with AI the main driver (IEA).

Sustainable web design

Designing websites to use less energy and data while staying fast and accessible. See what is sustainable web design.

Web Sustainability Guidelines

New. Draft guidelines from a W3C community group, published in September 2023, setting out 93 guidelines and 232 success criteria for more sustainable websites and digital products (W3C).

Green hosting

Website hosting powered by renewable energy. You can check a site using the Green Web Foundation’s green web check.

E-waste

Discarded electrical and electronic equipment. The world generated a record 62 million tonnes in 2022, and only 22.3% was documented as properly collected and recycled (UNITAR).

 

FAQs

What are the key terms in sustainability? The most widely used include net zero, carbon footprint, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, circular economy, ESG, biodiversity, greenwashing and the Sustainable Development Goals.

What are good keywords for sustainability? Use specific, measurable terms such as “net zero by 2040”, “Scope 3 emissions” or “B Corp certified”, rather than vague words such as “eco-friendly” or “green”, which are now restricted in the EU.

What new sustainability terms should businesses know in 2026? Greenhushing, nature positive, biodiversity net gain, double materiality, the digital product passport, green AI and the new UK and EU green claims rules.

What is the difference between net zero and carbon neutral? Net zero means cutting emissions as far as possible and removing only what’s left. Carbon neutral often relies on offsetting, and offset-based neutral claims on products are banned in the EU from 27 September 2026.

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Need help using the right language?

Growfish is a sustainable marketing agency. We help purpose-driven organisations communicate their impact clearly, accurately and within the rules. If you’d like help getting your sustainability language right, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with Growfish

 

Sources

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Written by
Pollyanna Durbin

For more info about growing your business with a sustainable marketing strategy, get in touch with us at growfish.co

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