Green Pans: What's The Material?

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.

GreenPan's Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process and mainly consists of silica (aka sand) but may also have additional materials, such as pigments. After being thermally cured, it acquires a durable inorganic polymer coating, whose composition is unknown. The Thermolon cooking surface can be further provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating.

While GreenPan's products might be safer than traditional non-stick coatings, the lack of transparency regarding the Thermolon coating composition is concerning. Without knowing all the coating ingredients and their potential contaminants, it is hard to determine the safety of GreenPan products comprehensively.

GreenPan's Thermolon coating

GreenPan Thermolon coating is a ceramic non-stick coating that was the first of its kind to be launched on the market in 2007. The coating is made by a Sol-Gel process, which results in a coating layer mainly comprised of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass or sand. The coating may also contain additional materials such as pigments that give it colour.

The Thermolon coating is free of forever chemicals known as PFAS, as well as lead and cadmium. The raw materials or precursors are derived from Silicon Dioxide, which originates from sand. The liquid part of the coating is mainly water. After being sprayed onto the pans, the coating is cured in an oven at a relatively low temperature, requiring 60% less heating energy than conventional non-stick pans and resulting in 60% fewer CO2 emissions.

The absence of forever chemicals means that GreenPan products will not release toxic fumes, even if accidentally overheated. Thermolon can withstand temperatures up to 850°F/450°C, which would not be safe with a conventional non-stick frypan. The coating has been certified by third-party testing labs as conforming to international regular food contact standards set by the US FDA and EU regulators.

GreenPan has created eight generations of Thermolon since its launch, with each generation being manufactured without the use of PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium.

GreenPan's manufacturing process

The raw materials for Thermolon are derived from Silicon Dioxide, which originates from sand. These raw materials are turned into a solution and sprayed onto the pan without the need for glue or numerous PFAS additives. The liquid part of the solution is mainly water. The coating is then cured in an oven, after which the pan undergoes quality control checks and is packaged for shipping.

GreenPan owns its factories in Italy and China, where it carefully controls the manufacturing process. The company has won numerous awards for its environmental safety, worker satisfaction, and overall standards. Its factory generates 30% of its power from solar panels on the roof and has its own wastewater treatment plant.

GreenPan's environmental impact

GreenPan is a cookware company that claims to be eco-friendly and non-toxic. Their products are coated with Thermolon, which is manufactured without the use of PFAS, lead, or cadmium. The curing process for the coating also creates 60% fewer CO2 emissions compared to conventional nonstick coatings. The company's factory generates 30% of its power from solar panels and treats its wastewater to keep it clean and reusable.

However, GreenPan has faced scrutiny and lawsuits over its marketing claims. In 2012, the company was criticised by the National Advertising Division for making untrue claims in its advertisements. A 2019 class-action lawsuit also alleged that GreenPan's products contained toxins despite being advertised as "completely toxin-free". The lawsuit was dismissed, but it brought attention to the lack of transparency regarding the composition of Thermolon.

While GreenPan's products seem to be safer than traditional non-stick coatings, there are still concerns about potential toxins and the accuracy of the company's environmental claims. The company's commitment to sustainable practices is commendable, but more transparency and independent testing are needed to fully assess the environmental impact of GreenPan products.

GreenPan's health claims

The company says its coating is made by a Sol-Gel process that results in a layer of mainly Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) – the same composition as glass or sand – with some additional materials such as pigments that give it colour.

It adds that Thermolon can withstand temperatures up to 850°F/450°C and, unlike traditional non-stick pans, won't release toxic fumes if accidentally overheated.

GreenPan also says its manufacturing process emits 60% less CO2 during the curing phase of the non-stick coating compared to traditional coatings. It also says its factory generates 30% of its power from solar panels on the roof and has its own wastewater treatment plant.

GreenPan's competitors

GreenPan is a Belgian brand that pioneered the ceramic non-stick cookware movement in 2007. It offers a range of base materials, including aluminum, hard-anodized aluminum, and fully-clad 3-ply stainless steel. Its products are coated with Thermolon, a diamond-reinforced, ceramic non-stick material derived from sand that is PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium-free. GreenPan's top five competitors, as of April 2023, are:

• Cuisine Addict: A specialist in kitchen and pastry products, offering an affordable selection of beautifully designed, award-winning kitchen tools.
• Zyliss: Offers a range of kitchenware, kitchen utensils, and accessories that are affordable, beautifully designed, and award-winning.
• Bialetti: An Italian coffee brand, offering products related to the essence of Italian coffee culture.
• Zdravosloven: A Bulgarian online store for bio and natural food products, super foods, bio cosmetics, and food supplements.
• Beitaichufang: A Chinese website offering a range of cooking recipes and food-related content.

Other competitors include The Cookware Advisor, Caraway, Scanpan, All-Clad, Made In, Swiss Diamond, Tramontina, Hexclad, Misen, Anolon, Nordic Ware, Calphalon, Great Jones, Five Two, Hestan, Oxo Good Grips, and Kyocera.

Frequently asked questions