Environmental Materials &

Products
So Why Should I Care ?
Using Recycled or
Environmental Products Is Not
Important Right ?
After all, No One is Really Asking
For Them , They Costs More and
Dont Look as Good As New Stuff
What We Waste
28 Billion Pounds Of Glass goes to
Landfill
39 Million Newspapers go to landfill
Each Day- 500,000 trees
We use 2 million plastic bottles an
hour
We recycle about 10% of our waste
Europe recycles about 65%
Well, Lets See
Specified Any Poison Lately ?
Victor Yushchenko
Definitions
Bio Accumulative The chemical
accumulates in the tissues
Mutagens the chemical causes mutation of
the Cell Structure
Carcenogen The Chemical Causes Cancer
Teratogen The Chemical is Passed from
mother to Child in Vitro, or Breast milk.
Sulfonamides- Inhibits the Action of a Plant
Enzyme, stopping plant growth. ( Found in
Some Textile Dyes)
Formaldehyde
Irritation of eyes , Nose and Throat

HHS has determined that formaldehyde
may reasonably be considered a
human carcenogen
Where is Formaldehyde Used ?
Glues and Adhesives

Binder for Fiberglass & Mineral Fiber

Binder for Particleboard and Plywood
Substitutes for Formaldehyde
MDI Methylene Biphenyl Isocyanate
Once Cured VERY Stable

Lignum Natural Binder Present in
Fiber

PTP Plant Based Polymer
Triglycerides
Lead
Lead Does NOT break down in the
environment.
Lead is a Teratogen
Lead can damage the Nervous System,
Kidneys, Reproductive System
HHS has determined that may be
reasonably anticipated as a carcinogin.
Where Do We Find Lead ?
Production of PVC
Mercury
Mercury is a Teratogen
Mercury is a Bio Accumulative
May Damage Brain or Kidneys

In Children: Mental retardation,
blindness, seizures, Inability to Speak
Where Do We Find Mercury
Fluorescent Light Bulbs

In Certain Fabric Dyes




Benzene
Breathing causes drowsiness,
dizziness, unconsciousness

Long term exposure can cause anemia,
leukemia.

Benzene is a known carcinogen


Where Do We Find Benzene ?
Glues

Paints

Furniture Wax
Cadmium
Damages the Lungs
Can Cause Kidney Disease
Irritation of Digestive Track

It Does Not Break Down in the
Environment
It is a Bio Accumulative
Where Do We Find Cadmium ?
Pigments

Fabric Dyes

Metal Coatings

Plastics

PVC Production
Trichloroethylene
Drinking or Breathing may cause
Nervous System Effects.

Liver and Lung Damage

Abnormal Heart Beat , Coma


Solvent for Grease Removal From Metal
Parts

Adhesives
Where do We Find
Trichloroethylene
Styrene
Breathing Styrene is most likely to
effect the Nervous system.
Depression
Lack of Concentration
Possible Eye, Nose Throat Irritation
HHS has determined that Styrene is
possibly carcenogenic.

Where Do We Find Styrene ?
Rubber

Plastic

Insulation

Fiberglass
Chromium VI
Nasal Damage
Ulcers
Kidney & Liver Damage

A Known Carcenogen
Where Do We Find Chromium VI
Chrome Plating

Fabric Dyes and Pigments

Leather Tanning

Wood Preservatives
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
Immune System Damage
Hormone Disruption
Contamination Occurs During
Production, Use and Disposal
Bio Accumulative
Produces Dioxin when burned.
Dioxins are Bio Accumulative,
Mutagenic and Carcenogenic.
Where Do We Find PVC ?
Wall Cover
Carpet Backing
Panel System Base Panel Covers
Panel System Connectors
Edge Banding on Work Surfaces
Window Treatments
Maybe This is Important After
All ?
Research CDC
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html
Now, What about Recycling ?
Did You See The Tires ?
Did You See The People ?
Post Consumer Waste
Where Most Of The Industry
Hangs Their Environmental Hats

Recycled Steel

Recycled Aluminum

Recycled Content in Particle Board
Recycled Content Claims
FTC Guidelines Govern Manufacturers
claims for Recycled Content.

A Manufacturer must demonstrate that
by their use of the material, the material
is diverted from the waste stream.
Steel Facts
Everyone's Steel is from Recycled Steel you
cant buy it any other way !!
A Lot of our Steel is Imported
Steel Does NOT go to the Landfill for Lack of
Market - Only Laziness or inability to separate
66% of Steel is Recycled Content on
Average.
Can be 99% from Arc- Furnace

Aluminum Facts
Everyone's Aluminum is from Recycled
Aluminum.
Aluminum is made from Primary and
Recycled Aluminum
Recycled Aluminum Costs LESS than
Primary Aluminum
Aluminum Does NOT go to the Landfill
because of lack of market.

Particle Board
All particleboard is, and has been made with
Post Industrial Waste.

When a Product is NORMALLY made with
Waste Material, From the Manufacturing
Process, You Cannot Include those Materials
In Your Recycled Calculations- According to
FTC Guidelines
How Do YOU Define Sustainabilitiy ?

A Product May Have 100% Recycled
Content But High Levels of Toxicity

A Product May Have NO Recycled
Content But No Toxicity
What About Greenguard
tm
?
What Greenguard
tm
Does
Measures VOC for Indoor Air Quality

Emphasis on:
Formaldehyde
Benzyene
Styrene
What Greenguard
tm
Does Not Do
Analyze Recycled Content
Analyze Toxicity
Analyze Bio-Based Content
Measure any effects of degradation in
Landfills

Forest Stewardship Council
Founded in 1993, FSC's mission is to
promote environmentally appropriate,
socially beneficial and economically
viable management of the world's
forests. FSC forest management
standards are based on FSC's 10
Principles and Criteria of responsible
forest management.
http://www.fscus.org/
Forest Stewardship Council
Guiding Principles ( Partial Listing)
Forest Management
Environmental Impact
Workers Rights
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Monitoring and Assessment

http://www.fscus.org/standards_criteria/
McDonough - Braungart
Design Philosophy



Cradle to Cradle Design

Waste = Food
Design Materials and Products That
Are Safe
Collect & Recover the Value of These
Materials
The Focus of Cradle 2 Cradle
Emphasis on Human and Ecological Health
Impact on a a Products Ingredients
Ability of the Product to be Truly Recycled or
Composted
The Quality of Energy Used
Water Quality and Quantity
Social Responsibility of the Manufacturer
SPIN - Dead Giveaways
My Product is Recyclable
My Product is LEED Certified
My Product is Green because we use
Recycled Packaging
My Product is Green because we
Recycle our Waste
My Product is Green because we are
Energy Efficient
How GREEN Is It ?

In a LEED Certified Factory
Where Literature is printed On Recycled
Paper...
Where Employees collect Aluminum Cans,
Waste Paper and Pop Bottles.
You make a product that is Green Guard
Certified ( low VOC emissions).
How GREEN is The
if It Contains..

Teratogins, and Bio-accumulatives:
formaldehyde, mercury, PVC,cadmium
and there are substitutes ?

Negligible legitimate Recycled Content

No Legitimate Sustainable Attributes



There are Green Factories
There are Green Processes
There are Green Products

They are Related, but one does not
Guarantee the Other !
We Drink the Same WaterWe
Breathe the Same Air

We Do Not Inherit The
Earth.We Borrow it From Our
Children Native American Saying

For further Information on
Workshops, Seminars, Product
and Material Consulting...
Eugene M. Lisa
Verde Interior Products
gsavp@aol.com 407-673-7474