Greenpan: Ptfe-Free?

GreenPan is a cookware brand available for purchase online and through national retailers like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. The company established a reputation for selling so-called eco-friendly, non-stick cookware that it claims is better for you than competing products.

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 2019, a class-action lawsuit was brought by a consumer, Anna Saldivar, 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.

According to the lawsuit, GreenPan's Thermolon™ coating contains several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate. However, we don't know for sure that GreenPan cookware contains or contained these chemicals, given that the lawsuit was dismissed.

What we do know is that GreenPan's other claims that its pans are superior for not containing PFOA are suspect. All non-stick cookware produced in the United States has been free of PFOA since 2013, when Teflon stopped using them in its coating. Their exclusion is now the norm, not a distinguishing factor.

So, while GreenPan claimed that its cookware is free of PFOA, unlike traditional non-stick cookware, this statement is factually untrue. In reality, you'll struggle to buy a pan today that contains PFOA.

GreenPan has also claimed in the past that its pans are free of PFAS, lead, or cadmium. Unfortunately, the company stopped releasing any test reports in 2020. As such, we have no current test results to show if these heavy metals or others are present in the cookware, nor if there are traces of PFAS in GreenPan products.

GreenPan's coating is made from a patented solution of sand and water

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 also metal utensil-safe and dishwasher-safe.

However, there are some concerns about the safety of Thermolon. Firstly, it is a relatively new product on the market, so there has been very little real-world testing done. Secondly, the company has been accused of greenwashing and making misleading marketing claims. For example, in 2012, the National Advertising Division criticised GreenPan for making untrue claims within its advertisements. There have also been lawsuits against GreenPan, including a 2019 class-action lawsuit claiming false advertising. The lawsuit alleged that GreenPan's Thermolon coating contained several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate.

While GreenPan has denied these claims and stated that their products are free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, they have stopped releasing test reports since 2020. As such, there is no current evidence to confirm the safety of their cookware.

GreenPan's coating is not PTFE

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 made by a Sol-Gel process that results in forming a coating layer on the surface of the pan. This layer comprises mainly Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass (or sand). There are some additional materials such as pigments that give the colour. All the materials in Thermolon are 100% safe for use in food contact coatings.

However, it is important to note that GreenPan does not disclose all the ingredients in its Thermolon coating. This lack of transparency has led to concerns about the safety of the product. There have been lawsuits against GreenPan alleging that the company misrepresents the safety of its products. While these lawsuits have been dismissed, there are still questions about the presence of toxins in the coating.

Overall, GreenPan's coating is not PTFE, but there are ongoing concerns about the safety of the product due to the lack of transparency from the company.

GreenPan's coating is not Teflon

GreenPan's coating is called Thermolon and is made from a patented solution of sand and water. It is a ceramic coating that is manufactured without PFAS, or PFOA, and does not contain any lead or cadmium.

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 Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process that results in forming a coating layer on the surface of the pan. This layer comprises mainly Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass (or sand). There are some additional materials such as pigments that give the colour. All the materials in Thermolon are 100% safe for use in food contact coatings.

However, silicon dioxide (aka sand) is clearly not the only material in Thermolon coating. Thus, there are concerns about the other materials used in the coating, which are not disclosed by the company.

The Thermolon cooking surface can be further provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating. Personally, I do not consider PTFE-coated cookware safe due to the potentially harmful substances used during its manufacture. One of the most common ones is carcinogenic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which may also cause flu-like symptoms, fertility issues, and lead to thyroid disorders.

In 2021, the Ecology Center published the results of their tests of four sample pans by four non-stick cookware companies, including GreenPan. They tested GreenPan Dover ceramic nonstick 8” frypan and found no PTFE in it.

GreenPan provides test reports for their products. According to the available GreenPan Thermolon coating test reports, both grey original and black diamond coatings were tested for a wide range of chemicals. The latter were found undetectable, except aluminum in one of the grey original coating reports.

GreenPan has put eco-friendly practices in place since its founding in 2007. They use solar panels to generate 18% of the total electrical requirements in their factories, and they treat and reuse wastewater onsite to create a sustainable cycle.

GreenPan's coating is not toxic

Thermolon can withstand temperatures up to 850°F/450°C, something that would not be safe to do with a conventional nonstick frypan. It has been certified by third-party testing labs as conforming to international regular food contact standards set by the US FDA (USA Food & Drug Administration) and by EU regulators.

The absence of forever chemicals in GreenPan pans means they won't release toxic fumes, even if you accidentally overheat your pan.

GreenPan's coating is not safe

In 2012, the National Advertising Division criticised GreenPan for making untrue claims in its advertisements. The company changed its wording, but the new phrasing was still misleading. A 2019 class-action lawsuit (Saldivar vs. The Cookware Company) further brought to light concerns about GreenPan's marketing tactics and the safety of its products. The lawsuit alleged that GreenPan's Thermolon™ coating contains several toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate.

Although the lawsuit was dismissed, likely due to a settlement, it raised significant doubts about GreenPan's transparency and the safety of its cookware. The absence of third-party testing and the company's refusal to disclose its full list of ingredients make it challenging to determine the safety of GreenPan's products.

Additionally, consumers have reported issues with the non-stick coating wearing off over time, even with proper care. This raises concerns about the potential release of toxins into food and the overall durability of GreenPan's products.

Given these concerns, it is advisable to approach GreenPan's products with caution and consider alternative options for safe and reliable non-stick cookware.

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