With reference to ISO standards, definitions commonly used among professionals internationally are reported (in alphabetical order). English terminologies are indicated in parentheses, along with the reference to the relevant paragraph of the standard when present. The literal translation is in italics.
Sustainable development
Economic and social development compatible with the natural renewal of environmental and energy resources used to ensure that future generations enjoy the same goods, opportunities, and options as we do today.
Data quality
(Data quality - ISO 14041, par. 3.3): Semi-quantitative process to define the nature and characteristics of data used in the study.
Open loop recycling
(Open Loop Recycling): It is a recycling system where the product is used in a different system from the one that generated the waste.
Closed loop recycling
(Closed Loop Recycling): It is a recycling system where the waste product becomes an input of the system that generated the waste itself.
Reserves (of hydrocarbons)
Discovered and producible hydrocarbons at prices and with technology existing at the time of estimation. They can be proven (discovered and producible hydrocarbons mainly contained in the part of fields that have been drilled and already fully or partially equipped), probable (already discovered hydrocarbons that are likely to be exploited with slight improvements in technology and economic conditions), or possible (hydrocarbons not yet discovered but for which there is evidence of existence with a reasonable degree of probability).
Reuse
(Reuse): Reuse of the product after any cleaning treatment.
Product system
(Product System - ISO 14040, par. 3.15): Set of unit processes connected by material and energy flows that fulfill one or more defined functions.
TEP
Ton of oil equivalent; 1 toe = 45,000 MJ (using an average value of the higher calorific power of crude oil).
Peat
Relatively recent formation fossil carbon, with a carbon percentage between 50-60% and a lower heating value of 3,500 kcal/kg.
Functional unit
(Functional Unit - ISO 14040, par. 3.5): Reference unit for quantifying the LCA performance of a production system.
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