Green Pans: Pfas-Free?

GreenPan is a cookware brand that claims to be eco-friendly and non-toxic. The company has been accused of greenwashing and false advertising, with lawsuits alleging that their products contain toxins such as PFAS, despite their claims to the contrary. However, GreenPan maintains that their products are PFAS-free and that their manufacturing process emits less harmful gases than their competitors. The debate surrounding GreenPan's products centres on the presence or absence of PFAS, with independent tests failing to find PFAS in their products, but GreenPan's lack of transparency regarding their non-stick coatings leaving some doubts.

GreenPan's PFAS-free claims

GreenPan claims to be PFAS-free, but the company has faced scrutiny and lawsuits over its marketing claims. The original GreenPan cookware uses a patented Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating that the company has advertised as "completely toxin-free", "healthy", and "free of PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium". However, GreenPan has been accused of greenwashing and misleading consumers with its advertising.

In 2012, the National Advertising Division criticised GreenPan's advertising campaigns, which led to the company changing its wording. However, this new wording was still considered to be misleading. As a result, GreenPan has faced multiple lawsuits from consumers who felt they had been duped by the company's advertising and paid more for a product that was promised to be healthier and more environmentally friendly.

One such lawsuit, filed in 2019, claimed that GreenPan's Thermolon coating contained several known toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate. GreenPan settled this lawsuit, but the settlement was kept confidential, so it is unclear whether the claims had merit.

While GreenPan no longer discloses its test reports, previous reports from before December 2021 showed that the company's products were free of PFAS. However, without more recent test reports, it is difficult to verify GreenPan's PFAS-free claims.

GreenPan's Thermolon coating

GreenPan is a brand of non-stick ceramic cookware that was introduced in 2007 by Jan Helskens and Wim De Veirman. The brand's unique selling point is its Thermolon™ coating, which is derived from sand and does not contain harmful toxins, including PFAS (also known as forever chemicals), PFOA, lead, or cadmium. This makes GreenPan products healthier for both the user and the environment.

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

According to GreenPan, their Thermolon™ coating is safe and non-toxic. The company states that their products are free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The coating can withstand temperatures up to 850°F/450°C without releasing toxic fumes, which is an improvement over conventional non-stick pans.

However, there have been some concerns and controversies regarding the safety of Thermolon™. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against GreenPan, alleging false advertising and claiming that the Thermolon™ coating contained several known toxins. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, but it raised questions about the safety and transparency of GreenPan's products.

Some independent tests and reviews have shown that GreenPan products may release toxic fumes and that the non-stick coating may deteriorate over time. There are also concerns about the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the coating, which have been classified as a possible human carcinogen.

Overall, while GreenPan claims that their Thermolon™ coating is safe and non-toxic, there are some conflicting opinions and reports that raise concerns about its long-term safety. It is essential for consumers to do their own research and make informed decisions about the cookware they use.

GreenPan's cookware safety

GreenPan Cookware Safety

GreenPan is a cookware brand that claims to sell eco-friendly, non-stick products that are healthier than competing products. However, the company has faced scrutiny and lawsuits over the years, with accusations of greenwashing and false advertising. This article will explore the safety of GreenPan cookware, including the materials used, testing procedures, and the results of lawsuits against the company.

Materials Used in GreenPan Cookware

GreenPan's non-stick coating is made with a patented material called Thermolon™. According to the company, Thermolon™ is a ceramic coating that is "completely toxin-free," "healthy, and "free of PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium." Thermolon™ is applied using a Sol-Gel process, resulting in a coating layer mainly composed of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), with some additional materials such as pigments.

However, there are concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the full composition of Thermolon™. While silicon dioxide (or sand) sounds harmless, it is not the only material in the coating. There are also concerns about the use of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) in the Thermolon™ coating, which can be made from potentially harmful substances such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a known carcinogen.

Testing and Transparency

GreenPan has been criticized for a lack of transparency regarding the ingredients and potential contaminants in their non-stick coating. The company stopped releasing test reports in 2020, raising questions about the presence of heavy metals and other toxins in their products. While GreenPan claims that their products are free of PFOA, this is now a standard for all non-stick cookware produced in the United States since 2013.

GreenPan's advertising has also come under scrutiny. The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus warned the company in 2012 to tone down its health and environmental claims. Despite this, GreenPan's marketing continues to target health-conscious and eco-conscious consumers, who are willing to pay a premium for their products.

Lawsuits and Settlements

In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against GreenPan, alleging false advertising and claiming that their products contained toxins despite being advertised as "completely toxin-free." The lawsuit specifically mentioned the presence of silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate, which are known to cause health problems. The lawsuit was settled, with GreenPan likely paying compensation to the plaintiff, but the claims against the company were not adjudicated in a public forum, leaving the situation murky.

While GreenPan cookware may offer some advantages in terms of non-stick performance and durability, there are valid concerns about the safety and transparency of their products. The lack of independent third-party testing and the company's history of misleading advertising raise questions about the presence of toxins and the accuracy of their marketing claims. Consumers should carefully consider the available information and make an informed decision about whether GreenPan cookware is right for them.

GreenPan's lawsuit

In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against The Cookware Company, which manufactures GreenPan. The lawsuit, Saldivar vs. The Cookware Company (USA) LLC, 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 alleged that GreenPan's Thermolon™ coating contains several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate. These substances are associated with adverse health outcomes and are considered toxins.

The lawsuit also claimed that GreenPan made false claims about its products, including that they were "healthy", "eco-friendly", and "reinforced with diamonds".

The outcome of the lawsuit is unclear. It was dismissed in December 2020, with the claims against GreenPan dismissed "with prejudice", meaning Saldivar cannot refile the lawsuit. However, it was also dismissed "without prejudice" for any similar consumers, meaning they could bring similar claims against GreenPan.

GreenPan's alternatives

GreenPan has been accused of greenwashing and false advertising. The company has been involved in lawsuits that cast doubt on its marketing claims. Here are some alternatives to GreenPan:

• Made-In Cookware (not the PTFE non-stick, though)
• Caraway
• Alva
• Xtrema
• 360 Cookware
• Stargazer
• Field Company
• HexClad
• Zwilling
• Ozeri
• Blue Diamond
• ScanPan
• HomiChef
• Meyer

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