SERVE GOOD®
Climate-Conscious Glossary
Foodservice distributors are in a unique position to make a positive impact on the industry. We can work with suppliers to develop innovative products designed to help reduce environmental impact, and we can then bring those products to our operators and their diners, helping them make informed operational and culinary choices.
To help support our new Serve Good Climate-Conscious product portfolio, we've defined several terms commonly used during discussions about climate action.
Carbon Capture
This phrase refers to the process of collecting greenhouse gas emissions produced by industrial facilities, factories, power plants or other sources to keep from contributing to global warming.
Carbon Emissions
Gases like methane and carbon dioxide, which have been shown to contribute to climate change, are collectively referred to as carbon emissions. While each gas is measured individually, they are all converted into carbon equivalents for reporting data on emissions impact.
Carbon Footprint
This is the amount of carbon emitted by an individual, product or organization over a defined period of time. In the case of a product, the amount of carbon or other greenhouse gas calculated as a carbon equivalent, emitted during the identified steps in the life cycle of that product.
Carbon-Negative
This phrase refers to a product, process, technology or other entity that removes more carbon/greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than emitted between defined start and end points.
Carbon-Neutral
This phrase refers to a product, process, technology or other entity for which the total amount of carbon/greenhouse gas emissions produced is effectively canceled out by actions that remove or reduce an equal amount of carbon/greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, between defined start and end points.
Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are a way to compensate for carbon emissions from a product, process or technology by supporting projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases elsewhere, such as by investing in projects like planting trees or supporting renewable energy.
Climate Change
Climate change refers to the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns on the planet, largely caused by greenhouse gases and global warming.
Global Warming
This refers to the increase in the average temperature near the Earth's surface and in the lowest layers of the atmosphere due to factors such as the emission of greenhouse gases, and is shown to contribute to climate change.
Greenhouse Gas
Greenhouse gas is any gas (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) that traps heat in the atmosphere and, as a result, keeps the planet warm. Like having too many blankets, too much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere makes the world too warm and is shown to contribute to global warming and climate change.