{"id":244,"date":"2026-01-16T07:45:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T07:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/?post_type=back-matter&p=244"},"modified":"2026-01-16T07:51:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T07:51:01","slug":"glossary","status":"publish","type":"back-matter","link":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/back-matter\/glossary\/","title":{"raw":"Glossary","rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"raw":"","rendered":"
\n
circular economy<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continuous use of resources, where products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Community Engagement<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A company\u2019s role as a \u201cgood citizen\u201d that contributes positively to the well-being of its local community.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Consumer Values<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The beliefs and principles that influence a consumer\u2019s purchasing decisions, specifically their preference for ethical and sustainable products.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

eco-conscious consumers<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A growing group of customers who prioritize social and environmental values and are willing to support businesses that align with those principles.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Eco-friendly Materials<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Sourcing and using materials that are less harmful to the environment.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Eco-Friendly Practices<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Business actions aimed at reducing environmental harm, such as waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, and energy efficiency.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

environmental impact<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The effect a business\u2019s operations have on the natural world.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Environmental Impact Quantification<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The process of using metrics (e.g., carbon footprint, waste reduction) to measure and report a business's environmental performance.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

environmental performance<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A measure of a company's success in reducing its ecological footprint<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Ethical Labor Practices<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and humane treatment of all workers, both within the company and throughout its supply chain.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Ethical Supply Chain<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A network of suppliers committed to fair labor practices, safe working conditions, and responsible sourcing.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Financial Sustainability<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The ability of a business to be profitable and remain viable over the long term.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Innovative Business Concepts<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Creative and non-traditional business ideas that integrate the three pillars of sustainability (People, Planet, Profit) from the outset.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Logistics Optimization<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The process of improving a company's shipping and transport methods to reduce fuel consumption and a business's environmental footprint.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Market Gaps<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Opportunities in the market where consumer needs are not being met by existing, traditional business models.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Mission Statement<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A formal declaration of a company\u2019s purpose that goes beyond profit to include specific social and environmental objectives.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Performance Measures<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Specific metrics used to track and evaluate a business's progress toward its sustainability goals.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Product Longevity<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Designing products to be durable and long-lasting, which reduces the need for frequent replacements and minimizes waste.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Resource Conservation<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Practices focused on reducing the consumption of natural resources, such as using renewable energy, minimizing waste, and conserving water.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Social Equity<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The principle of fairness and justice in a business's treatment of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the community.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Social Impact<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A business's effect on society, including fair labor practices, community engagement, and solving social problems.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Social Impact Quantification<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The process of using data (e.g., employee satisfaction scores, number of fair-wage jobs) to measure a company's positive social contributions.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Social Performance<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A measure of a company's success in terms of its social impact on employees, communities, and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Supplier Certifications<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Third-party verifications (like Fair Trade, ISO 14001, and Rainforest Alliance) that demonstrate a supplier's adherence to specific social or environmental standards.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Sustainability Integration<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The process of embedding sustainable practices into all core functions of a business, from initial product development to final marketing.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

sustainable business model<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A strategic framework or business strategy that prioritizes creating value for the planet and its people, not just for financial gain. It is designed to ensure a company's long-term success by adapting to future challenges and changes.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

sustainable entrepreneurship<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The combination of traditional business goals with a concern for the environment and society.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

sustainable palm oil production<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

An example of a large corporation adopting environmentally and socially responsible practices within a major industry.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Sustainable Solutions<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Innovative approaches to persistent global issues that integrate environmental and social responsibility.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Take-back Program<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A system where a business takes back old or used products from customers for recycling, repair, or reuse.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Technology for Sustainability<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Using technological advancements to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance sustainable practices.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Triple bottom line<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

An accounting framework that expands the traditional focus on financial profit to include two additional dimensions: people (social performance) and planet (environmental performance).<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Upcycling<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

The process of transforming discarded materials into new products of higher value or quality.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Value-based Customers<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

Attracting a customer base that supports the business not just for its products, but also for its social and environmental values.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Vision Statement<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A forward-looking declaration that outlines the positive impact a business aims to have on the world.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n

Waste reduction<\/dfn><\/dt>\n
\n

A core practice in sustainable supply chains that focuses on cutting down on waste at every stage, from production to delivery.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"back-matter-type":[38],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-244","back-matter","type-back-matter","status-publish","hentry","back-matter-type-glossary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/back-matter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":249,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/244\/revisions\/249"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter\/244\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"back-matter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/back-matter-type?post=244"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=244"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openbook.ums.edu.my\/sustainablestartup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}