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Acoustic absorption is the ability of a material to absorb sound. It reduces reverberation and improves comfort. This is important in public and work spaces. Absorption is expressed in absorption coefficient, usually referred to as a (alpha) or Noise Reduction Coeffient (NRC).

Aesthetic longevity is the period during which a product is found visually appealing. This lifespan often determines replacement. It usually differs from the technical lifetime.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an international certification system for sustainable buildings. It assesses performance in terms of energy, material use and health, among other things. BREEAM is the world's leading, integrated method for assessing the sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings and areas.

BREEAM-in-Use is a certification method for existing buildings in use. It measures sustainability performance in terms of management, energy, water and comfort. The method offers insight into opportunities for improvement during the use phase.

Bamboo is a fast-growing and renewable material. It can grow 30-60 cm per day and has strong constructive properties. Bamboo is used as an alternative to wood.

Material that can be broken down by microorganisms (such as bacteria and fungi and algae) into natural substances such as water, CO₂ (or methane under oxygen-poor conditions) and biomass. The degradation rate and extent of degradation depend heavily on conditions such as temperature, moisture, oxygen and microbial life; many materials are only fully degradable under industrial composting conditions. Biodegradable does not mean automatically compostable and does not exclude residual flows and environmental impact if processed incorrectly.

Bio-composite is a composite material based on natural fibers such as flax, hemp or jute. It combines good technical properties with a lower environmental impact. Bio-composites are used as an alternative to traditional fossil-based composites.

Biobased materials are made entirely or partially from renewable raw materials. Examples include wood, flax, and bamboo. They reduce dependence on fossil resources and can store CO₂. So these are raw materials that will grow again in a lifetime.

The biological cycle is part of the Cradle to Cradle principle. Materials return safely to nature after use and form new raw materials. Examples include compostable and biobased materials.

Blended spaces are spaces that combine multiple functions. They respond to flexible and efficient use of space. This is in line with changing forms of work and use.

The CO₂ Performance Ladder is a Dutch tool that helps companies and governments measure, reduce and communicate their CO₂ emissions, both within the organization and in the chain. It encourages continuous improvement and sustainability of environments.

The CO₂ footprint is one of the impact categories within an LCA or EPD. It consists of three related components: the impact of production, the impact during use and the impact at the end of life (such as reuse, recycling or waste treatment). The CO₂ footprint considers the entirety of these phases and thus enables an integral comparison between alternatives, even when emissions vary by phase.

A CO₂ reduction strategy is a planned approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The strategy focuses on choices in design, material use, production and longevity. CO₂ reduction strategies are often used in sustainable construction and real estate development.

CPL is a laminate that is continuously produced under lower pressure. It is mainly used for furniture and vertical applications. CPL is less durable than HPL.

The carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions of a product, process or organization that are emitted directly and indirectly. These emissions are expressed in CO₂ equivalents. The carbon footprint is used to compare and reduce climate impact.

Cascading materials means reuse in applications with decreasing quality requirements. In this way, maximum value is obtained from raw materials.

A circular economy is an economic system in which raw materials are used for as long as possible and waste is prevented. Products and materials retain their value through reuse, repair and recycling, with the aim of decoupling economic growth from the use of new raw materials. This is necessary to combat resource scarcity, restore biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so that circular working contributes to combating climate change.

Circular construction is a construction method aimed at closing material cycles to minimize waste and environmental impact over the entire lifespan. Design is done with reuse, demountability and the end of life in mind.

Circular interior design focuses on designing and realising interiors while maintaining material value. This takes into account reuse, dismantling and flexibility. Circular interior construction contributes to waste reduction, CO₂ reduction and future-proof buildings.

Circularity describes the extent to which products, materials and raw materials remain in closed cycles. The higher the circularity, the fewer new raw materials are needed. Circularity plays a central role in sustainable design and construction.

Indicator that shows what proportion of material flows in the economy is circularly reused compared to the use of primary raw materials. The term, familiar from Circle Economy reports, shows how far an economy is from full circularity and is used for monitoring and policy direction.

Climate impact is the influence of activities, products or buildings on climate change. This impact is usually expressed in greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing climate impact is an important goal in sustainable and circular construction.

Circular system where materials remain within a cycle of use and are reused for similar applications. This minimizes quality loss, reduces the need for new raw materials and supports high-quality recycling and reuse.

Co-creation is a form of cooperation where multiple parties design and decide jointly. Knowledge and interests are shared. This often leads to better supported solutions.

A commodity passport provides insight into the origin and composition of the raw materials used within a product or building. In practice, this concept partly overlaps with material and product passports. Because there is currently no single, recognized format, these passports are often used jointly to provide transparency about origin, composition and options for future reuse and recycling.

Composite materials consist of several components. They offer strong technical properties. Recycling is often more complex.

Cork is a renewable material from the bark of the cork oak tree. It has insulating and acoustic properties and is resilient. The tree remains alive after harvesting the bark.

Cradle to Cradle is a zero-waste design philosophy. Materials circulate in biological or technical cycles. At C2C, waste is seen as a raw material.

Raw materials that are economically essential but have a high supply risk due to scarcity, geopolitical dependence or limited extraction. They play a key role in sectors such as energy, technology and industry.

Data-driven design uses data as a basis for decisions. This increases predictability. It is being used more and more often.

Demountable design means that products or structures can easily be disassembled. As a result, parts remain suitable for reuse or repair. This increases the circular value of materials.

Design for Disassembly (DfD) is a design method where products are designed in such a way that they are easy to dismantle. This facilitates repair and maintenance, extends the lifespan and makes it possible to reuse parts. In addition, a good demountable design can contribute to more efficient production and lower assembly costs, because products are also easier to assemble. DfD is an important principle in circular design.

Design optimization is improving a design based on predetermined criteria. This can focus on sustainability, costs or performance.

Digital dataset with structured information about the origin, composition, environmental performance, repair, maintenance and circularity of a product over the entire life cycle. Increases transparency in the chain, supports reuse, repair and recycling, and becomes an important tool for circular product information within EU policy.

Digital representation of a physical product, object, or process that uses real-time data to monitor and optimize performance, usage, and maintenance. Used for simulations, predictive maintenance and more efficient lifecycle management, and supports reuse by providing insight into the condition, performance and residual value of products and materials.

A disassembly manual describes how products are safely disassembled. This supports reuse and recycling. It is important for circular management.

Dry compounds do not use glue or sealant. Examples include screw and click connections. They increase detachability and thereby support circularity.

EU regulations that set broad requirements for sustainability, circularity, energy and material use, repairability and longevity of products. Forms the overarching framework for product-related sustainability rules within the EU. The Digital Product Passport is an example of the implementation of the ESPR.

Emission classes indicate the emission of harmful substances. Lower classes mean fewer emissions. This contributes to a healthier indoor climate.

An environmental impact analysis maps out the environmental effects of products or projects. The analysis supports sustainable decision making. LCA data is often used and it is also a vital part of this.

EPD stands for Environmental Product Declaration. An EPD includes the environmental performance of a product. Data is based on LCA. EPDs have been independently verified.

Environmental tax describes the impact of a product or activity on the environment. This looks at the use of raw materials, emissions, energy consumption and waste. Environmental impact is calculated on the basis of an LCA.

Functional separability means that functions can be adjusted independently. This makes maintenance easier. It extends the lifespan.

Thin top layer consisting of several layers of paper soaked in resin, which is produced under high pressure and temperature. It is durable and is therefore often used in intensively used interiors, and is available in various reproductions with an aesthetic top layer.

Selectively dismantling and securing existing materials and parts for reuse, usually before renovation or demolition. For example, system walls, doors, frames, fixtures, ceiling panels and furniture components can often be harvested well. Harvesting prevents waste and preserves material value and, within the R ladder, mainly falls under Re-use, and, depending on the processing, also under Refurbish or Repurpose.

Structured overview of reusable materials and components from a building or interior, drawn up after inventory and inspection. Usually includes information about numbers, dimensions, condition, dismantling method and possible applications (e.g. lighting, sanitary facilities, counters, glass walls). The harvest list supports planning, logistics and processing and forms the basis for circular reuse in accordance with the R ladder.

ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems. The standard helps organizations to structurally control and improve their environmental impact. ISO 14001 focuses on continuous monitoring and improving environmental performance according to the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.

Impact measurement is identifying the effects of products or projects on the environment, society and economy. The measurement makes sustainability objective and comparable. Impact measurement is often used in decision-making and accountability.

An integrated design approach combines technology, sustainability, use and aesthetics. All disciplines are considered in conjunction. This prevents sub-optimization in projects.

LEED is an international certification system for sustainable buildings, originally developed in the United States. It assesses performance in the areas of energy, water use, materials and indoor climate. LEED is used worldwide in new construction and renovation.

Standardised method (ISO 14040/14044/14067) for mapping the total environmental impact of a product, service or process over the entire life cycle. This happens “from the cradle to the grave”: from raw material extraction, production and transport to use and end of life (waste treatment). An LCA forms the basis for sustainability calculations and the substantiation of environmental performance.

Design approach where spaces and furniture are designed flexibly and adaptable so that they remain usable throughout the life cycle with changing needs. This is done in close coordination with the client, with future use, job changes and changing users at the heart of the design process.

Extending the lifespan of products or materials means extending the useful life of products or materials. This can be done through maintenance, adaptability or reuse. It reduces raw material consumption and environmental impact.

Linoleum is a floor covering or top layer for furniture made from natural raw materials such as linseed oil, resin, cork flour and wood fibers. The material is sustainable and biodegradable. Linoleum is widely used in utility buildings.

MKI reduction means lowering the Environmental Cost Indicator of a product, project or design. In other words, reducing environmental damage (expressed in monetary terms).

The MKI value stands for Environmental Cost Indicator. It is a number that expresses the total environmental impact of a product in euros. The lower the MKI value, the lower the environmental impact.

Maintenance sensitivity indicates how much maintenance a material requires. This affects longevity and operating costs. It is an important selection criterion.

Material origin describes where and how a material was produced. This is relevant for sustainability and transparency. It plays a role in certification.

A material passport is a digital overview of the materials used and acts as a list of ingredients: it shows what raw materials a product or object is made up of and what options there are for reuse or recycling. In practice, the material passport is often used jointly with a commodity passport.

Material recovery is the process of taking back materials after use. This can be done by producers or chain partners. It supports closed cycles.

Modular design is a method where products or buildings consist of interchangeable modules. This makes maintenance, expansion and adjustment easier. Modular design supports flexibility and circularity.

Ocean plastic is plastic made from plastic waste collected from oceans and coastal areas. It prevents further contamination and gives waste a second life. Ocean plastic is increasingly being used in products and interiors.

A form of recycling where materials are processed into raw materials for uses other than those for which they were originally intended. The material quality often decreases here (downcycling), so that the material is used less efficiently and can usually be recycled less often. It is often used in mixed or difficult to separate material flows.

Paris Proof means that buildings meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. This requires very low CO₂ emissions. Paris Proof is used as a guideline for future-proof construction.

Value preservation is the ability of a product or material to maintain its functional, aesthetic, and economic value. This prevents premature replacement and waste. In circular applications, value retention is an important design criterion.

Product-as-a-Service is a business model that focuses on use rather than ownership. The manufacturer remains responsible for maintenance and longevity. This encourages circular use.

The R ladder is a strategic, hierarchical model that organizes circular strategies from refuse to Recover. The model helps to prioritize circular choices, with higher strategies in principle pursuing more circularity. However, following the R ladder does not automatically lead to environmental benefits; the actual impact depends on context, application and life cycle analysis and must therefore always be substantiated and tested.

Medium step in the R ladder: the reuse of products or parts in their original function without extensive processing. This extends the lifespan and prevents the use of new materials.

Lowest step of the R ladder: recovering energy from waste through incineration when reuse or recycling is no longer possible. Material is lost here, but the energy value is used.

Low step of the R ladder: processing waste materials into secondary raw materials for new products. The process includes collection, sorting and processing, usually requires energy and can involve loss of quality (downcycling), so high-quality reuse is often preferred.

Recycled aluminum is aluminum from reuse. Production requires up to 95% less energy than new aluminium. The material can be recycled without restrictions.

Recycled steel is produced from secondary raw materials. It saves up to 75% of energy compared to primary steel production. Recycled steel maintains its technical quality.

High step in the R ladder: (re) designing products and interiors to reduce material use and increase circularity. The focus is on modular construction, disassembly, reuse, longer lifespan and reduction of primary material use.

High step in the R ladder: minimizing material and energy use by designing, producing and using more efficiently. Often combined with lower steps such as Re-use and Repair, for example by using fewer materials, choosing lighter structures and integrating existing parts.

Medium step in the R ladder: refurbishing and partially renewing a product while retaining its original function. Examples include refinishing furniture, replacing fronts or renewing upholstery.

Highest step of the R ladder: avoiding the use of materials by not purchasing products or raw materials when they are not needed. Focuses on prevention at source, for example by solving functions differently (shared use, digitization) or retaining existing elements.

Regenerative design is a design approach that focuses on restoring and strengthening natural systems. It goes beyond limiting damage. Regenerative design actively contributes to ecological and social improvement.

Lower middle step in the R ladder: manufacturing a product with recycled parts to a level comparable to new. Components are disassembled, checked and reassembled; often with replacement of wear parts. This method is similar to revising a product.

Renewable raw materials are materials that can renew themselves within a short period of time. Examples include wood and biopolymers. They contribute to a more sustainable use of raw materials. The difference with bio-based is that renewable raw materials can also contain non-living substances such as water and clay.

The renovation cycle is the period in which a building or interior is renewed. This cycle influences material selection. Shorter cycles require flexible solutions.

Medium step in the R ladder: repairing defective products so that they can be reused.

Lower middle step in the R ladder: repurposing products or parts for a function other than originally intended. This preserves the material, but the application changes, so it is lower on the ladder than reuse while maintaining function.

Residual stream processing is about processing leftover materials. Good processing reduces waste. It contributes to the circular use of materials.

Residual value is the value that a product or material retains after use. This value can be economic or functional. Residual value plays an important role in circular business models.

Reverse logistics is the retrieval of products after use. This makes reuse and recycling possible. It is essential for circular chains.

Sawing optimization is the efficient organization of material to reduce cutting loss. This increases material efficiency. It reduces waste.

Secondary raw materials are materials that come from reuse or recycling. They replace primary, newly extracted raw materials. This reduces environmental impact and resource scarcity.

Social Return on Investment measures social value in addition to financial returns. It can be about employment or inclusiveness. SROI is often used in public projects.

Sustainability performance indicates how sustainable a product, building or interior is. They are often measured for energy, material use and environmental impact.

The technical cycle is a Cradle to Cradle principle for finite resources. Materials continue to circulate through reuse and recycling without loss of quality. Metals and plastics are typical examples here.

The technical lifespan is the period during which a product is technically functioning. This lifespan is often longer than the useful life. This difference is relevant in circular design.

Total Cost of Ownership includes all costs over the lifetime of a product or building. These include purchase, maintenance and replacement. TCO supports long-term decision-making and, in this sense, can be a helpful tool in the realization of circular projects.

True Cost is an approach that includes environmental and social costs in addition to financial costs. These normally hidden costs are expressed in money, revealing the actual costs of a product or service. Like the MKI method in construction, True Cost provides financial insight into environmental damage and provides a more realistic picture of the overall impact.

Turn-key realization means that one party carries out the entire project. This runs from design to delivery. It offers clarity in responsibility.

Upcycling is the reuse of materials that increase the value. In contrast to recycling, quality remains the same or improves. Upcycling prevents material loss.

Urban mining is the recovery of raw materials from existing buildings or products. The immediate living environment is seen as a source of raw materials. This reduces new extraction.

VCA stands for Safety, Health and Environment Checklist Contractors. It is a Dutch certification that focuses on working safely and responsibly. VCA is widely used in construction and technical sectors.

Veneer is a thin layer of real wood that is applied to a support. It combines a wood look with relatively efficient use of materials and is often used in interior finishing. At the same time, depending on the type of wood, origin, bonding and finish, veneer can have a relatively high CO₂ impact through forest management, transport and production processes.

The WELL Building Standard is an international, evidence-based standard that assesses buildings for their impact on the health and well-being of users. The focus is on air quality, light, comfort and mental health. WELL certification is about the user of the space.

PEFC and FSC certifications show that wood comes from sustainably managed forests. They ensure responsible forest management. Wood certification is often used in sustainable construction projects.