EBIT, an intermediate management figure in a company’s statement of income, is the operating income before restructuring costs and amortization of goodwill.

Eco-design involves taking environmental protection into account in the design of goods and services. It makes it possible to release onto the market products that are more environmentally friendly throughout their entire lifecycle, that is, from the extraction of raw materials through to the waste generated by their manufacture, use and disposal.

A complex dynamic comprising an environment, plants, animals and microorganisms which, through their interaction, form a whole.

Knowledge of ecosystem functions and services that human beings obtain from them.

Property of a substance to cause harmful effects on living organisms or their physiology (biochemical effect) and their functional organization (ecosystem).

Usually refers to household and municipal wastewater (effluent is the infeed at treatment plants) and, by extension, wastewater from industrial processes as well.

The Kyoto Protocol sets up a mechanism via which Parties who have committed themselves to limiting their emissions can participate in emission credit exchanges or trading with other Parties. This provision aims at heightening flexibility and ensuring enhanced economic efficiency for developed countries constrained by the legal obligation to reduce their emissions within the scope of the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol introduced a mechanism by which Signatories who undertook to limit their emissions can take part in an emission credit trading system with the other Signatories. This system aims to provide greater flexibility and ensure improved economic returns for developed countries under a legal obligation to reduce their emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

These quotas correspond to the authorization to emit a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent during a given period. In particular, they are assigned to operators of energy facilities in application of the Kyoto Protocol.

European system for the exchange of GHG emission quotas.

A system enabling an organization to implement its environmental policy and achieve the associated objectives for controlling any significant environmental impact of its activities and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Vehicles of no further use

Recovery of the energy contained in waste. The calories are recovered from the waste when it is burned. The resultant energy is used to generate electricity and/or produce heat and/or steam. It is used, for example, to heat buildings. Because of its energy potential, biogas is also used to produce heat or steam, generate electricity, for cogeneration (electricity and heat), as vehicle fuel, electric energy and to supply reticulated gas networks.

Product added to soil to improve its physical qualities and correct its acidity.

System that an organization can use to implement its environmental policy and achieve associated objectives to control environmental impacts significant of its activities and to respect regulatory requirements.

French acronym for “Entreprises Pour l'Environnement

Established in 1997, this independent international association provides consumers with a safety performance assessment for the majority of the most popular cars in Europe. Thanks to its severe automobile crash tests, Euro NCAP has rapidly become the driver of major safety improvements to new cars.

Founded in 1997, Euro NCAP is an international association under Belgian law. It provides consumers with an independent assessment of the safety performance of the majority of the most popular cars in Europe. Through its stringent crash tests, Euro NCAP has rapidly become a catalyst for significant safety improvements in new cars.

European emission credits trading system.

Enrichment of watercourses and bodies of water in nutrients, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen, that acts as a fertilizer for aquatic plants. It is visible in the excessive proliferation of plants, which breathe at night and then decompose as they die resulting in a notable decrease in the water’s oxygen content. The effects include a drop in animal and plant diversity and disruptions to ongoing use (drinking water and leisure activities). (Source: www.ecologie.gouv.fr.)