Making Sense of Sustainability Jargon: A Guide for Business Professionals
Hey ESF Readers!
In today’s business world, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a core component of how companies operate and grow.
在當今的商業世界中，永續性不再僅僅是一個流行詞彙，而是公司運營和成長的核心組成部分。
But if you’ve found yourself getting lost in the jargon during sustainability meetings or struggling to translate complex terms to your colleagues, you’re not alone.
但如果你發現自己在永續性會議中迷失於術語中，或難以將複雜的術語翻譯給同事，那你並不孤單。
Let’s break down some of the most common sustainability jargon you’ll come across and what it all means for you and your company.
讓我們來解析一些你可能會遇到的最常見的永續性術語，並了解它們對你和你的公司意味著什麼。
TL;DR:
Sustainability is an important aspect of modern business, but the technical jargon surrounding it can be intimidating. This blog post breaks down some of the most common sustainability terms, helping you navigate discussions with ease and confidence. From “carbon footprint” to “circular economy,” we’ve got you covered with simple explanations and real-world examples.
永續性是現代商業的重要方面，但圍繞它的技術術語可能令人畏懼。這篇博客文章解析了一些最常見的永續性術語，幫助你輕鬆自信地進行討論。從“碳足跡”到“循環經濟”，我們用簡單的解釋和實際例子來幫助你理解。
This blog post breaks down some of the most common sustainability terms, helping you navigate discussions with ease and confidence. From “carbon footprint” to “circular economy,” we’ve got you covered with simple explanations and real-world examples.
這篇博客文章解析了一些最常見的永續性術語，幫助你輕鬆自信地進行討論。從“碳足跡”到“循環經濟”，我們用簡單的解釋和實際例子來幫助你理解。
1. Carbon Footprint 碳足跡
You’ve probably heard this one before, but what exactly is it? Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are produced by your company’s activities, including energy consumption, transportation, and even the products you manufacture. The goal of reducing your carbon footprint is to lower the amount of GHGs you release into the atmosphere, helping mitigate climate change.
你可能以前聽過這個詞，但它到底是什麼呢？你的碳足跡是指公司活動產生的溫室氣體（GHGs）的總量，包括能源消耗、交通運輸，甚至你生產的產品。減少碳足跡的目標是降低你釋放到大氣中的溫室氣體量，從而幫助減緩氣候變化。
Example 範例：
Imagine your company manufactures electronics. If you switch from coal-powered electricity to renewable energy sources like wind or solar, you’re actively reducing your carbon footprint.
假設你的公司製造電子產品。如果你從煤電轉換為可再生能源，如風能或太陽能，那麼你正在積極減少碳足跡。
2. Net Zero 淨零排放
This term is all about balance. Net zero refers to the concept of balancing the amount of greenhouse gases you emit with the amount you remove from the atmosphere. To achieve net zero, your company must drastically reduce its emissions and offset any remaining ones by investing in projects that remove carbon, such as planting trees or investing in carbon capture technology.
這個詞與平衡有關。淨零排放是指平衡你排放的溫室氣體與從大氣中移除的溫室氣體量的概念。為實現淨零排放，公司必須大幅減少排放，並通過投資碳移除項目（如植樹或碳捕捉技術）來抵消剩餘的排放。
Example 範例：
Many companies, like Microsoft and Google, have pledged to become net zero by 2030. This means that they are working to reduce their emissions as much as possible and offset the rest to have a net zero impact on the planet.
許多公司，例如微軟和谷歌，已承諾在2030年前實現淨零排放。這意味著他們正在盡可能減少排放，並抵消其餘部分，以實現對地球的淨零影響。
3. Circular Economy 循環經濟
The circular economy is a new way of thinking about production and consumption. Instead of the traditional linear model (take, make, dispose), the circular economy focuses on keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. This includes recycling, repairing, and reusing materials to minimize waste.
循環經濟是一種新的生產和消費思維方式。與傳統的線性模式（取得、製造、丟棄）不同，循環經濟專注於使產品和材料盡可能長時間使用。這包括回收、修復和再利用材料，以盡量減少浪費。
Example 範例：
IKEA is a great example of a company embracing the circular economy. They’ve introduced furniture buy-back programs where customers can return old furniture to be refurbished and resold, keeping products in circulation instead of in landfills.
宜家是一個擁抱循環經濟的公司範例。他們推出了家具回購計劃，客戶可以將舊家具送回進行翻新和再銷售，從而使產品保持在流通中，而不是被丟棄在垃圾場。
4. Sustainable Supply Chain 永續供應鏈
A sustainable supply chain ensures that every step in the production process—from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product—is done in a way that minimizes environmental impact and upholds ethical standards. This often includes working with suppliers who follow fair labor practices and use sustainable materials.
永續供應鏈確保從原材料的採購到最終產品的交付的每一個生產過程，都是以盡量減少環境影響和遵守道德標準的方式進行的。這通常包括與遵守公平勞工慣例和使用永續材料的供應商合作。
Example 範例：
Patagonia is known for its commitment to sustainability. They work closely with their suppliers to ensure that all materials are ethically sourced and produced with minimal harm to the environment.
巴塔哥尼亞以其對永續性的承諾而聞名。他們與供應商密切合作，確保所有材料均來自道德來源，並以對環境損害最小的方式生產。
5. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) 環境、社會與公司治理（ESG）
ESG refers to a company’s performance in three key areas: environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices. Investors and stakeholders are increasingly using ESG criteria to evaluate companies’ long-term sustainability and ethical impact.
ESG指的是公司在三個主要領域的表現：環境影響、社會責任和公司治理實踐。投資者和利益相關者越來越多地使用ESG標準來評估公司長期的永續性和道德影響。
Example 範例：
A company with strong ESG performance might focus on reducing emissions (environmental), ensuring diversity and inclusion in its workforce (social), and having transparent, ethical leadership practices (governance).
一家擁有強大ESG表現的公司可能會專注於減少排放（環境），確保員工多樣性和包容性（社會），以及具備透明和道德的領導實踐（公司治理）。
6. Renewable Energy 可再生能源
This one’s pretty straightforward—renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, or hydropower. Transitioning to renewable energy is a big step toward sustainability for many companies.
這個概念很簡單——可再生能源來自於自然補充的來源，如太陽能、風能或水力發電。轉向可再生能源對許多公司來說是邁向永續性的重大一步。
Example 範例：
Google has been running on 100% renewable energy since 2017, using solar and wind power to meet its energy needs while drastically reducing its carbon footprint.
谷歌自2017年以來一直在使用100％的可再生能源，通過使用太陽能和風能來滿足其能源需求，同時大幅減少其碳足跡。
7. Greenwashing 漂綠
While this term may sound positive, it actually describes a deceptive practice. Greenwashing occurs when a company falsely advertises its products or practices as environmentally friendly when they aren’t. Understanding this term can help you spot companies that aren’t truly committed to sustainability.
雖然這個詞聽起來很積極，但實際上它描述的是一種欺騙性的做法。漂綠是指公司虛假宣傳其產品或做法是環保的，而實際上並非如此。理解這個詞可以幫助你識別那些並不真正致力於永續性的公司。
Example 範例：
Some fast fashion brands have been accused of greenwashing by promoting a small collection of “sustainable” products while continuing to use unsustainable practices in their main production lines.
一些快時尚品牌因推廣小部分“永續”產品，而在主要生產線上繼續使用不永續的做法，被指控漂綠。
To Summarize 總結：
Understanding sustainability jargon is the first step in guiding your company towards a greener future. With these terms now demystified, you can confidently participate in sustainability discussions, communicate more effectively with your team, and begin implementing changes that make a difference.
理解永續性術語是引導你的公司邁向更綠色未來的第一步。隨著這些術語不再神秘，你可以自信地參與永續性討論，更有效地與你的團隊交流，並開始實施改變，帶來真正的影響。
Call to Action 行動呼籲：
Want to dive deeper into sustainability? Check out our Sustainability for Corporations Framework for actionable steps on how to implement eco-friendly practices in your business!
想更深入了解永續性嗎？請查看我們的《企業永續框架》，了解如何在您的業務中實施環保做法的實際步驟！
—
ESF Joe
