Green Pans: Healthy Or Hype?

GreenPan is a cookware brand that claims to be eco-friendly and non-toxic. The original GreenPan cookware uses a patented Thermolon™ ceramic non-stick coating that the company has at one time or another advertised as completely toxin-free, healthy, and free of PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium. However, the company has come under scrutiny for these claims, with accusations of misrepresentation and greenwashing.

In 2012, the National Advertising Division criticised GreenPan for making untrue claims within its advertisements, and though the company changed its wording, this could still be seen as misleading. Individual consumers have also taken legal action against GreenPan, with a 2019 class-action lawsuit brought by a consumer, Anna Saldivar, who claimed she was misled by GreenPan's advertising to spend more money on a pan she was promised would be healthier and more environmentally friendly. Though this lawsuit was dismissed, similar claims could be brought against GreenPan in the future.

While GreenPan's products are free of PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium, there are still questions over the safety of the Thermolon™ coating. The company has been criticised for a lack of transparency regarding its composition, and though it is mainly comprised of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), there are some additional, undisclosed materials.

GreenPan's coating

Thermolon™ is heat-resistant up to high temperatures. This means that GreenPan™ has an extra safety feature; if you overheat your pan, even up to 450°C/850°F, no toxic fumes will be released and the coating will not blister or peel. The coating is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.

However, the company has come under scrutiny for these claims, with accusations of misrepresentation and greenwashing. A class-action lawsuit was filed in 2019 claiming false advertising. The lawsuit was brought by a consumer who claimed she was duped by GreenPan’s advertising to spend more money on a pan she was promised would be healthier and more environmentally friendly. The lawsuit breaks down GreenPan’s claims to show how the brand overstates the health and environmental advantages of its pans. The lawsuit was dismissed, but similar claims could be brought against GreenPan again.

GreenPan's safety

GreenPan is a cookware brand that claims to be eco-friendly and non-toxic. The original GreenPan cookware uses a patented Thermolon™ ceramic non-stick coating that the company has at one time or another advertised as "completely toxin-free," "healthy," and "free of PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium." However, the company has come under scrutiny for these claims, with accusations of misrepresentation and greenwashing.

In 2012, the National Advertising Division critiqued GreenPan's ad campaigns, after which the company changed the wording. The new wording, while technically different, could be seen as equally misleading. Individual consumers have also pushed back against GreenPan's marketing tactics, as exemplified by a lawsuit brought in 2019.

The lawsuit, filed by a consumer who claimed she was duped by GreenPan's advertising to spend more money on a pan she was promised would be healthier and more environmentally friendly, brought many concerns about GreenPan to light. The lawsuit breaks down GreenPan's claims to show how the brand overstates the health and environmental advantages of its pans.

Although the lawsuit was dismissed, the claims made against GreenPan tell us a lot. Firstly, GreenPan advertises that its non-stick pans contain "0% toxins" and are "good for the environment." However, according to the lawsuit, GreenPan's Thermolon™ coating contains several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate.

Secondly, GreenPan states that its pans are superior for not containing PFOA, but this is not a distinguishing factor as all non-stick cookware produced in the United States has been free of PFOA since 2013.

GreenPan also claims its products are eco-friendly, primarily due to production practices that emit up to 60% less carbon dioxide during the curing phase of the Thermolon coating than its competitors. However, the company does little to substantiate this statement or share which brands it is specifically competing with. This statement goes against the Federal Trade Commission's Green Guidelines about avoiding broad, unqualified claims about environmental benefits.

Additionally, GreenPan states that its Thermolon coating is made in a process that doesn't require PFOA or PFAS during production. Again, the PFOA claim is true for every cookware brand sold in the U.S. today, regardless of whether the brand claims to be eco-friendly.

While GreenPan's claims about its products' safety and eco-friendliness are questionable, the company does provide care instructions that may help maintain the non-stick coating and prolong the life of the pans. These instructions include using low to medium heat, nylon, bamboo, silicone, and wood utensils, and hand washing.

Overall, there are concerns about GreenPan's marketing claims and the safety of its Thermolon coating. While the company provides care instructions that may help prolong the life of the pans, it is ultimately up to the consumer to decide whether they feel comfortable using GreenPan products.

GreenPan's class-action lawsuit

In September 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against The Cookware Company, alleging that its GreenPan products were falsely advertised as "completely toxin-free" and "healthy ceramic non-stick". The lawsuit was brought by a consumer, Anna Saldivar, who claimed she was misled by GreenPan's advertising and spent more money on a pan that was promised to be healthier and more environmentally friendly.

The lawsuit contended that the Thermolon™ coating on GreenPan products contains several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate. These substances are known to cause health problems, according to the plaintiff.

The lawsuit also alleged that GreenPan made false claims about its products being "good for the environment" and "reinforced with diamonds". The plaintiff sought to represent those who purchased GreenPan products in California within the past four years.

In December 2020, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Saldivar cannot refile the same lawsuit again. However, it was also dismissed "without prejudice" in terms of the class action overall, meaning any similar consumer could bring those claims and others against GreenPan again. The terms of the settlement between Saldivar and The Cookware Company have not been disclosed.

GreenPan's coating ingredients

The GreenPan coating is made by a Sol-Gel process. This process results in the formation of a coating layer on the surface of the pan. The layer mainly consists of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass (or sand). There are some additional materials such as pigments that give the colour.

The Thermolon coating is made by turning raw materials, which are derived from Silicon Dioxide, into a solution and spraying it onto the pan without the need for glue or PFAS additives. The liquid part of the solution is mainly water. After spraying, the coating is then cured in an oven at a relatively low temperature.

The Sol-Gel process is a highly industrial process. It involves hydrolysis and polycondensation, gelation, aging, drying, densification, and crystallization. The Thermolon coating may have heavy metals or toxic residues present that might get into the food if it is chipped or scratched.

GreenPan's coating wear-off

GreenPan's coating is made by a Sol-Gel process, which involves a colloidal suspension of hydrolyzed metal alkoxide particles in an organic solvent. This process results in the formation of a coating layer on the surface of the pan, which is mainly composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). While silicon dioxide sounds harmless, it is not the only material used in the coating. The coating may also contain additional materials such as pigments, and after thermal treatment, it acquires a durable inorganic polymer coating whose composition is not disclosed by the company.

The Thermolon coating is claimed to be non-toxic and safe for use in food contact coatings. However, there have been concerns and lawsuits regarding the safety of GreenPan's coating. The company has been accused of making misleading marketing claims and greenwashing. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against GreenPan, alleging that their ceramic non-stick coating contained several known toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate. The lawsuit was dismissed, but it raised doubts about the company's marketing claims.

Some users have reported issues with the coating wearing off or becoming less effective over time. It is recommended to follow proper care and maintenance instructions to prolong the life of the coating. However, even with proper care, the coating may eventually wear off, and it is unclear if the pans can still be safely used in this condition.

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