Glossary Bamboo – Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world. It is naturally and sustainably grown as well as naturally antibacterial and biodegradable. Bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years. It spreads rapidly across large areas. Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land. Biodegradable – The ability of materials to break down safely and relatively quickly (by biological means) into the raw materials of nature and disappear back into the environment. Cork – Cork is the outer bark of an oak tree, Quercus suber, which is grown primarily in the Mediterranean region. It is environmentally responsible because the bark is carefully harvested to preserve the tree and to ensure its productivity year after year. Latex – The colorless or milky sap of certain plants, such as the poinsettia or milkweed, that coagulates on exposure to air. Organic – Products created through a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. Recyclable – Materials that can be reused. They include glass, paper, aluminum, asphalt, iron, textiles, plastics and biodegradable waste. Recycled – A term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product and then brought back to the consumer as a new item. Sustainable – Products that are capable of being continually produced with minimal long-term impact on the environment. Vegetable Tanned Leather – A leather tanning process that uses material obtained from parts of certain plants and other ingredients found in vegetable matter, such as the bark, wood, fruit, root or leaf of the plant. Water Soluble – A substance that can be dissolved in water. Water-soluble substances easily rinse off with water and disperse readily through the environment upon release.