Sustainable Marketing Strategies – Glossary

Glossary of Terms

Audit

• Definition: A systematic review or assessment of something, typically an organization or its accounts.

Carbon

• Definition: A chemical element that is essential for life and forms the basis of organic chemistry. In sustainability contexts, it often refers to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Circular Economy

• Definition: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources through principles of reuse, recycling, and regeneration.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Definition: A business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public.

Creating Shared Value (CSV)

• Definition: A strategy for addressing societal needs and challenges through business solutions that create economic value.

Engagement

• Definition: The process of interacting with and involving stakeholders in decision-making and activities.

Ethics

• Definition: Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior, especially in business.

Evaluation

• Definition: The process of assessing or appraising something to determine its value or impact.

Framework

• Definition: A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.

Greenwashing

• Definition: The practice of making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company practices.

Lifecycle

• Definition: The series of stages a product goes through from development and use to disposal or recycling.

Neutrality

• Definition: The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement; in sustainability, it often refers to carbon neutrality, where carbon emissions are balanced with carbon removal.

PLANET Framework

• Definition: A framework for sustainable marketing that includes Prioritize, Link, Align, No deception, Evaluate, and Take time.

Reflection

• Definition: The process of thinking carefully about something, often involving self-examination and assessment.

Stakeholders

• Definition: Individuals or groups that have an interest in an organization’s activities and can affect or be affected by the organization.

Sustainability

• Definition: The ability to maintain or improve standards of living without damaging or depleting natural resources for future generations.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Definition: A set of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030, aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all.

Transparency

• Definition: The practice of being open, honest, and straightforward about various company operations and performance.

Triple Bottom Line

• Definition: An accounting framework that incorporates three dimensions of performance: social, environmental, and financial.