business english 4

the buy nothing movement

social conglomeration encouraging people to reduce their consumption by sharing, borrowing, or repurposing items rather than buying new ones

agenda 2030

a set of global sustainable development goals adopted by the united nations in 2015, aimed at addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges by the incoming period of time

throwaway society

a societal mindset characterised by the excessive production and consumption of disposable goods, leading to environmental degradation and waste accumulation

downcycling

the process of recycling materials into products of lesser quality/value

recycling

the process of converting waste materials into reusable materials to prevent them from being disposed of in landfills

upcycling

the process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of higher quality/value

precycling

the practice of reducing waste by avoiding or minimising the generation of unnecessary packaging or products before they are purchased

circular economy

an economic system designed to minimise waste and maximise the use of resources by keeping products in use for as long as possible through recycling, reuse and regeneration

cradle to grave

a product lifecycle approach that considers the environmental impact of a product from its creation to its disposal

cradle to cradle

a sustainable design approach that aims to mimic nature by creating products that can be continually recycled or reused without generating waste

the sharing economy

an economic model where individuals or organizations share resources, such as goods, services, or skills, often facilitated by digital platforms

consumerism

a social and economic ideology that encourages the acquisition and consumption of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts, often leading to environmental and social consequences

decluttering

the process of removing unnecessary items or possessions from one’s living or working space to create a tidier and more organised environment

flygskam

a swedish term meaning “flight shame”, referring to the feeling of guilt or embarrassment associated with the environmental impact of air travel

köpskam

a swedish term meaning “shopping shame” which describes the feeling of guilt associated with excessive consumerism and its environmental consequences

repurposing

giving a new purpose or function to an object or material, often extending its lifespan and reducing waste

sustainable development goals

a set of 17 global objectives adopted by the united nations to address social, economic and environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development by 2030

carbon footprint

the total amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organisation, event or product

byproduct

sth which is produced during the manufacture or processing of another product

shopaholism

a compulsive shopping behaviour characterised by excessive and often unnecessary purchasing of goods, sometimes leading to financial strain or psychological distress

shopocalypse

a humorous term used to describe perceived negative consequences of excessive consumerism and unsustainable shopping habits on society+environment

fossil fuels

non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are burned to produce energy and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change

landfill site

a designated area where waste is disposed of by burying it underground, often resulting in environmental pollution and ecosystem degradation if not properly managed

the ozone layer

a region of earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation

compost

organic matter, such as food scraps, yard waste, and other biodegradable materials that decomposed into nutrient-rich soil conditioner

minimalism

a lifestyle/design philosophy characterised by simplicity, decluttering, and prioritising only essential possessions or elements to promote focus, clarity, and sustainability

zero-waste

a lifestyle or approach aimed at minimising waste generation by reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting with the ultimate goal of sending no waste to landfills or incinerators

biodegradability

the ability of a substance to be broken down naturally by microorganisms into simpler, non-toxic compounds as part of the ecological cycle

solar power

electricity generated by converting sunlight into usable energy through the use of photovoltaic or solar thermal systems

greenwashing

refers to the deceptive practice of promoting products, services, or policies as environmentally friendly or sustainable when they actually have little or no positive impact on the environment

black market

an illegal market in which goods are traded outside the control of the government or official regulations, often involving illegal or untaxed transactions

a golden opportunity

an exceptional chance or favourable circumstance that is likely to lead to success

a white-collar job

an office or administrative job often associated with a higher education, specialised knowledge and non-manual labour

a blue collar job

manual labour jobs

a pink slip

a notice of termination or dismissal of employment

out of the blue

unexpectedly or without warning

to be in the black

to be financially profitable or solvent, to have positive earnings

a silver bullet

a simple and highly effective solution to a complex problem

brown-bag

to bring one’s lunch from home to work or school (financial and/or health reasons)

to give sb the green light

to give permission or approval for sth to proceed

to give sb the red-carpet treatment OR to roll out a red carpet for someone

treat someone with great respect, attention, hospitality

a blue-chip company/investment

a well-established and financially stable company that is considered reliable and low-risk

a black tie event

a formal social event or function where attendees are required to wear formal evening attire

red tape

excessive bureaucracy or administrative procedures that hinder efficiency or progress

to be green with envy

to be extremely jealous of someone

to catch sb red-handed

to apprehend or confront someone while they are committing a crime or a wrongdoing

on a silver platter

to be provided with sth easily or without effort, often being privileged

to have blue-sky ideas

to have innovative or imaginative ideas not limited by practical constraints or current realities

to be in sb’s black books

to be in someone’s bad graces

to black list someone

to formally exclude someone from a particular group, organisation etc

a red flag

a warning sign or indicator of a potential danger, risk or problem

a white lie

a trivial lie typically told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings of conflict

to be browned off

to be annoyed, frustrated or disconnected about sth

a red-letter day

a significant or memorable day marked by an important event/achievement

a golden handshake

a generous financial package or payment made to an employee upon retirement or termination, often as a gratitude or to facilitate their early departure

green taxes

taxes or levies imposed on activities/products harmful to the environment to discourage pollution

once in a blue moon

very rarely and/or infrequently

to be in the red

to have a negative financial balance or to operate at a loss

a silver lining

a positive aspect/benefit which comes out of a negative/difficult situation

to be black and white

sth clear and unambiguous

to be tickled pink

to be extremely pleased or amused about sth

a white elephant

an expensive or burdensome possession/project that is more trouble than worth, difficult to dispose

a pink-collar job

a job traditionally associated with women

the grass isn’t always greener on the other side

a phrase that suggests that things seem better in a different situation or circumstance but in reality they are not as good as they appear to be

grey area/market

a market/area characterised by ambiguous or unclear legal norms, often involving the sale of goods through unofficial or unauthorised channels