Purify the air with Bamboo Charcoal

Did you know that bamboo charcoal is used dehumidify, and purify air & water? Water filters and dehumidifiers, which are energy sapping are being replaced in the homes of the eco-conscious with bamboo charcoal deodorizers. 

But the question is, does the switch have enough benefits for the environment and for us in general? 

Charcoal is believed to be used as an absorption material in the olden days because of the large pores on its surface. The large surface area of charcoal gives it the ability to absorb moisture, purify water, absorb any air pollutants and any other impurities that are present. One gram of charcoal is believed to have an effective surface area of 250 m². But that’s about traditional charcoal, which is made by cutting wood. Bamboo charcoal is believed to have 4 times the surface area of traditional charcoal, which means it is more effective than traditional charcoal. The fact that it is made from bamboo makes it eco-friendly too; because bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth. 

As for the air pollution caused due to the burning of charcoal, compare it with the energy sapping devices you otherwise use for dehumidifying and water purifying- the effects are almost negligible in comparison.

Using bamboo charcoal as a dehumidifier and air purifier is eco-friendly, effective and saves money.

 Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/10/eco.charcoal/

What Makes Stainless Steel Dishes Better than Plastic?

Plastic is durable, easy to use, flexible and cheap. Those are the short term benefits of plastic that we often look at. However, if you see the big picture, plastic is more expensive than any other kind of material used for making utensils in this world. An average plastic plate takes hundreds of years to decompose – and that’s very bad for the environment.

It is estimated that more than 17 million barrels of crude oil is used annually to produce reusable plastic bottles, plastic cups and plates. This process is energy intensive and depletes earth’s non-renewable resources.

But plastic dishes aren’t harmful for the environment only. They can leave a very bad impact on our health as well. Most plates and dishes made from plastic contain a chemical known as BPA. According to studies conducted in recent times, BPA has been linked to increased cases of cancer, brain tumor and other fatal ailments. And don’t be fooled by BPA free plastic either. At the end of the day, plastic is made from chemicals, and these chemicals can seep into our food when they react with the hot ingredients. And any kind of chemical does leave a negative impact on our body.

Now, compare this with stainless steel dishes. Steel has a far more earth friendly life cycle than plastic. The safety aspect and the reusability aspect give a further edge to stainless steel dishes.

But ultimately, the decision rests on you - what would you prefer to use when serving your child’s food - plastic plates and glasses which are cheap but laden with harmful chemicals or the healthier stainless steel which is slightly expensive but healthier and cost-effective in the long run?

For further information, please visit: http://www.livestrong.com/article/158907-dangers-of-plastic-bottles-and-utensils/

Tiffins: Why Stainless Steel is better than plastic any day

Plastics are known to create environmental hazards, have a hazardous impact on aquatic life and take years to degrade. But did you know plastics can wreak havoc on your health too? Studies have shown that food stored in plastic can get contaminated because of the various toxins used for making plastics.

Plastic lunch boxes are usually made from polypropylene plastic which secrete certain antibacterial additives when they come in contact with hot food. These additives can adversely affect your health in the long run and even cause life threatening diseases like cancer and tumors. All the talk about ‘food safe’ plastics is actually misleading and you can read more about it at: http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/03/spring-clean-carnival-get-the-antibacterials-out-of-your-plastic/. 

Instead of giving your kids plastic lunch boxes and taking plastic tiffins to office, it is a healthier idea to opt for stainless steel tiffins instead. Stainless steel is known to be safe for storing food items and does not contain any harmful chemicals which may get leeched into the food that you store in them.

Health is by far the biggest advantage of stainless steel tiffins, but there are others too:

·         Stainless steel tiffins last for years. So, you don’t have to replace them every few months, as is the case with plastic food containers.

·         Ever notice what happens to plastic containers when you put something like pasta sauce in them? They often get stained and discolored. However, you need not worry about this with stainless steel tiffins & food containers. They are easy to clean and stay stain free.

·         Stainless steel tiffins are oven and toaster safe, which means you don’t have to transfer your food to another container for heating up. Again, convenience reigns supreme.

For further information about plastic food containers, please visit: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/04/05/spring-cleaning-carnival-get-the-plastics-out/

Stainless Steel Bottles and Flasks: An Edge over Dangerous Plastic

For the past few of years, food safe and BPA free plastic has been marketed as a healthy option to other forms of plastic. However, every plastic container leaches harmful chemicals into the food or drink that is stored within it.

Did you know that the plastic used for making water bottles and other beverage containers actually leeches Antimony into the fluids? Antimony is a toxic chemical which is believed to be carcinogenic. And not only that, the chemicals can ruin the taste of juice, water or anything stored in the bottles. Not to mention that the plastic water bottles take years to degrade, thus causing irreparable damage to the environment.

But you really don’t need plastic bottles when you have a healthier alternative: stainless steel bottles and flasks. These bottles and flasks are made from food grade stainless steel which means they do not leech any harmful chemicals in your drinks. And it’s not just about the health factor alone. Stainless steel bottles and flasks come with other advantages too:

·         They are durable and reusable. How many times have you used a plastic water bottle? Stainless steel bottles can be reused for a lifetime.

·         They are dishwasher safe, unlike plastics, which means they are easier to clean.

·         And of course, stainless steel bottles and flasks have better aesthetics value, which means you look stylish too while carrying a stainless steel bottle, unlike the plastic ones.

Still looking for a reason to opt for stainless steel bottles?

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/04/05/spring-cleaning-carnival-get-the-plastics-out/

http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/03/chemical-antimony-found-in-plastic-bottles-of-fruit-juice/