Ethical Shopping Glossary
Understand the claims on food, cosmetics and cleaning products—and the evidence each claim still needs.
Three claims that are easy to confuse
Vegan
Where do the ingredients come from?
No animal-derived ingredients. Still check testing policy, allergens and any ambiguous ingredient sources separately.
Cruelty-free
What is the animal-testing policy?
A testing claim, not an ingredient claim. Beeswax, lanolin or other animal-derived ingredients may still be present.
Plant-based
What does the maker mean?
The term alone does not establish a universal certification standard. Read the complete ingredient list rather than assuming vegan status.
‘Natural’, ‘clean’ and ‘eco-friendly’ also need a precise explanation. Ask what is measured, who verifies it and which part of the product the claim covers.
Browse the definitions
Vegan
Contains no animal-derived ingredients and no animal byproducts.
Cruelty-Free
Neither the finished product nor its ingredients were tested on animals.
B Corp
A for-profit company independently verified to meet high social and environmental standards.
USDA Organic
U.S. federal certification for food and farming free from synthetic pesticides, GMOs, and irradiation.
Fair Trade
Producers in developing countries are paid a fair minimum price plus a community premium.
Leaping Bunny
The international gold standard for cruelty-free personal care and household products.
Non-GMO
Made without genetically modified organisms, typically verified to a 0.9% threshold.
EWG Verified
Personal care products free from the Environmental Working Group's list of ingredients of concern.
Rainforest Alliance
Certifies farms that meet standards for biodiversity, worker welfare, and climate-smart agriculture.
FSC Certified
Wood, paper, and forest products from responsibly managed forests.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
The leading worldwide standard for organic fibers, covering ecological and social criteria.
Cradle to Cradle
Certifies products designed for circularity — material health, reuse, renewable energy, water and social fairness.
Carbon Neutral
A brand or product whose climate impact is balanced by offsets — credible only with verified, additional offsets.
Greenwashing
Marketing a product or company as more environmentally responsible than it actually is.
Circular Economy
An economic model where products and materials are reused, repaired, refurbished or recycled — minimizing waste.
Microplastics
Plastic particles smaller than 5mm — released by synthetic fabrics, tires, packaging breakdown and personal care.
Fair Wear Foundation
Independent multi-stakeholder initiative auditing apparel brand factories for labor practices.
Biodegradable
Capable of being broken down by microorganisms into natural substances — but conditions and timeframes vary widely.
Carbon Neutral
Net-zero carbon emissions achieved by reducing and offsetting equivalent CO₂.
Net Zero
Reducing emissions by ~90% then offsetting only the unavoidable residual.
Scope 3 Emissions
Indirect emissions across the value chain — usually a company's largest footprint.
Regenerative Agriculture
Farming practices that rebuild soil health, biodiversity and watersheds.
Living Wage
A wage sufficient to meet a worker's basic needs in their location.
Supply Chain Transparency
Public disclosure of suppliers, facilities and conditions across every production tier.
Leaping Bunny
The strictest globally recognised cruelty-free certification.
GOTS
The leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, covering ecology and labour.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Tests textiles for harmful substances at every production stage.
RSPO
Multi-stakeholder certification for palm oil produced without deforestation.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Certifies wild-caught seafood from sustainably managed fisheries.
EWG Verified
Personal-care products that meet the Environmental Working Group's transparency and ingredient-safety criteria.
LEED Certification
The most widely used green-building certification system, run by USGBC.
IPCC
UN body that publishes the authoritative scientific assessment of climate change.
Carbon Offset
A tradable credit representing one tonne of CO₂ reduced, avoided or removed.
Turn a definition into a buying decision
- 1
Read the whole label
Separate ingredients, testing, nutrition and packaging claims. A positive claim in one area does not answer the others.
- 2
Find evidence for the exact item
Check the current ingredient list, the named certification directory and the brand’s policy. Formulas can differ between markets or change over time.
- 3
Keep uncertainty visible
If the manufacturer does not explain an ingredient source or a claim’s scope, leave it unverified instead of turning missing evidence into a positive verdict.
Check the evidence before choosing
Vegan ingredients, cruelty-free testing policies and environmental claims answer different questions. Check the exact product and its market, not just the brand name or a badge on the front of the pack.
Compare price per serving or use, the full ingredient list and any certification in the certifier’s own directory. Missing evidence means the claim is unconfirmed; it does not automatically mean the product fails.
- A practical example
- For a plant milk, compare protein and fortification alongside price per litre. For skincare, check ingredients and animal-testing policy separately.
- What to keep in mind
- Formulas, prices and certification can change. A ranking is a starting point for comparison, not a guarantee or an independent laboratory test.
When a label needs a closer look
A snack can look plant-based yet contain whey, honey or carmine. Check the exact flavour and pack sold in your country: another item from the same brand may have a different recipe.
If a scan has incomplete information, compare it with the label in your hand or analyse the ingredient text. An unclear source is a reason to ask the manufacturer, not proof that the ingredient is animal-derived.
- A practical example
- For a protein bar, look for milk proteins first, then check ambiguous additives and the source of any vitamin D3.
- What to keep in mind
- A vegan verdict is not an allergy clearance. Check allergen warnings and cross-contact information separately.
Understand what an impact estimate means
Environmental estimates compare a choice with an assumed alternative. The result depends on the ingredients, production method and comparison used; it is not a measurement of your individual supply chain.
Use the trend to understand repeated choices rather than treating a single total as precise. Reducing food waste and choosing meals you will keep making can matter more than chasing a perfect score.
- A practical example
- Compare a regular bean-based meal with the meat-based meal it replaces, while keeping portion sizes and food waste in mind.
- What to keep in mind
- Water, emissions and cost figures are estimates. They do not prove a particular product is carbon-neutral or universally more sustainable.