Being Green and LEED Compliant.
Many people believe that a Green material is one with a low or “Zero VOC”
content. What makes a chemical product Green however, starts way back in the
manufacturing process.
Green Chemistry, as defined by Anastas and Warner in their publication "Green
Chemistry: Theory and Practice" (Oxford Press University, 1989) is based on
several elements which include designing products with little or no toxicity,
using less hazardous chemical syntheses and using safer solvents and reaction
conditions.
Our chemical products are non toxic, do not result in hazardous polymerization
and use water as a solvent rather than dangerous chemical substances toxic to
both humans and the environment.
Because Water is an organic substance, we must list it as a "VOC" in our product
data sheet. However, even the small amount of water that evaporates from our
product during curing is well below the most stringent environmental statutes.
Many people think that the VOC Content is the "Green thing" about their product.
As a result, many solvent-borne epoxy based products boast loudly of having a
"Zero VOC" content as a distraction from the true issues of Green Chemistry.
A truly Green product is packaged in plastic (preferably recyclable) containers
instead of metal cans. A truly Green product does not warn users of "toxic,
caustic, corrosive and flammable" conditions when applying the material. And a
truly Green product does not result in "central nervous system depression, liver
and kidney changes, burns to the skin" and other dangers during use.
Our products meet LEED requirements for Low Emitting Materials but we feel there
should be additional LEED requirements for consideration of emission levels
during the APPLICATION of the product, not merely for the cured, dried-state
characteristics.
Solvent based products can produce highly toxic odors during application and
often require solvents for clean-up that are illegal on California job sites.
In addition to meeting LEED demands for Low Emission and using recyclable
plastic containers, our products are all made in the United States of America in
a world-class manufacturing environment that minimizes waste and results in a
cost-effectiveness that our competitors cannot match.