Nonstick Pans Bad For Your Health?

EWG ( Environmental Working Group) finds heated Teflon pans can turn toxic faster than DuPont claims.

I just came across an article on EWG's website shows that Teflon pans can easily reach temperatures that releases toxic chemicals. 

The article reads: "For the past fifty years DuPont has claimed that their Teflon coatings do not emit hazardous chemicals through normal use. In a recent press release, DuPont wrote that "significant decomposition of the coating will occur only when temperatures exceed about 660 degrees F (340 degrees C). These temperatures alone are well above the normal cooking range."

Recent studies shows that cookware can reach these temperatures, and higher within 2-5 minutes, and that this triggers the release of some seriously toxic chemicals. The toxic chemicals start being released at 446 degrees F.

And if you've got a stove thats "out of the ordinary hot", at 1000 degrees F, non-stick coatings break down to a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analog of the WWII nerve gas phosgene.

The EWG writes that the government has not assessed the safety of non-stick cookware. As a result of the new data showing that non-stick surfaces can reach toxic temperatures within 2-5 minuetes, EWG has petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to require that cookware and heated appliances bearing non-stick coatings must carry a label warning of the hazard associated with the use of non-stick pans (Read the Full Article).

So what pans are the safest and best to use? Celebrity chef Emeril has just launched a new Cast Iron product line. 

We also found many other sources that recommend old cast iron cookware, these may actually even improve your health. I think it's a great idea to reuse those old pans your parents or grandparents left you. The only thing you have to remember, is to season your pans properly (tips on how to season).

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Want to Recycle, but Don't Know Where?

Earth 911 is a great website for information about not only where to recycle, but also what, and why you should. They've got a great search box, where you just type in what you want to recycle together with your zip code, and you get a selection of recycling stations near you. Check out the website here!

Also make sure that the new products you buy, have a r

ecycling logo on it, that means that its made of recycled material! 

Want to learn more about recycling, also check out This Is Green's Recycling News Section.  Here we take a more in depth look at the three R's, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and talk about some other great products and ways that can help you recycle more efficiently at home and in the office.

One of my favorites is the GreenDisk's Technotrash Can. With this product you can recycle pretty much any electronics and computer related trash. We got one for the office and did a product video review of it. The neatest part is that you order the product (basically a card board box), throw all your "technotrash"in it, close it up, and send it back to Greendisk (shipping is included). Quick and easy, and you can do it all from home.

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Kite-powered ship set sail for greener future

The owners of the MS Beluga, a 462ft cargo vessel, will try to prove that modern steel ships can harness wind power and reduce their reliance on diesel engines. During the journey from Bremen to Venezuela, the crew will deploy a SkySail, a 160 square metre kite which will fly more than 600ft above the vessel, where winds are stronger and more consistent than at sea level.

Its inventor, Stephan Wrage, a 34-year-old German engineer, claims the kite will significantly reduce carbon emissions, cutting diesel consumption by up to 20 per cent and saving £800 a day in fuel costs. He believes an even bigger kite, up to 5,000 square metres, could result in fuel savings of up to 35 per cent. He got the idea while flying a kite as a child, and has now developed the concept into a hybrid of the sailing ships of old and motorised modern craft.



Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Green for Kids

Kids are the future, and climate changes and all the other issues facing the environment will effect them even more than us.

Scholastic is launching ACT GREEN, an educational website designed to motivate and empower kids with knowledge about how to preserve the environment.  Great initiative

ACT GREEN featureas a desktop "greenarator", reminder tags to help remember to unplug electrical appliances, turn down the AC, 100 ways to act green and more..

There's also a special section for Teachers and Parents! Very cool site, highly recommended!

Thanks Live Earth for the Tip!

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

New Recycling Technology

Just came across a really cool article in edie.net reporting on a new Polymag® process that can significantly reduce the cost of recycling plastics. Found the following info on the manufacturer's website:  

"The PolyMag® Process renders the plastic resin magnetic with an additive (high-concentration pellets) in a process similar to adding color concentrate. The quantity of the magnetic additive is extremely small and does not affect the physical properties of the plastic. PolyMag magnetic separators may be used to sort various types and/or colors of plastics. In fact, thePolyMag process can be used to separate more than two components by using a different amount of magnetic additive for each". 

Very cool, always wondered how this process actually works. They also have a video demonstrating the process or click here to read more on the manufacturers website.

Terracycle CEO Interview: Tom Szaky, 25 year old Entrepreneur

This week we interview Tom Szaky, CEO and Co-Founder of Terracycle, Inc. producer of the world's first product made from and packaged in waste.  terracycle Plant Food has been recently named the most eco-friendly product in Home Depot, and received a number of awards for business model and environmental stewardship.  

Click Here to Listen

Windpower Increase 45% in 2007

Just came across a very interesting article on Reuters.

"... U.S. wind power grew by 45 percent in 2007, blowing away past annual growth marks, industry group American Wind Energy Association said Thursday. Utilities seeking green alternatives, some in states requiring more renewable power, helped wind power account for $9 billion invested and 30 percent of all new U.S. power generation in 2007, the AWEA said in its annual year-end report.

The AWEA (American Wind Energy Association ) said this year's new wind power installation will be about the same as in 2007. Growing fast has its pains, and one is that growth in 2008 will be limited by a shortage of wind turbines. The AWEA said wind turbines are sold out for the year, a condition it says will ease as more manufacturers enter the burgeoning market."

Its great to see that the increase is now limited because of a shortage of wind turbines, and that the demand for sustainable energy sources is continuing to rise.