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Getting Rid of Gunk the Enviro-friendly Way

A commercial kitchen is a bustling and bombastic environment, fuelled by hard work, creativity and the delivery of food products that are tasty, well prepared, and clean and visually appealing. And the kitchen site where food is cooked needs to be fresh, clean and free from grease and caked on gunk that can compromise health and safety for clients, management and for staff.

We’ve probably all seen a large scale industrial kitchen at some point. Perhaps we’ve worked in one or perhaps we’ve seen its machinations on television. It’s a large-scale orchestrated production with big pots and big pans and big stoves and big ovens. Everything is downright BIG. Imagine an army barracks, or a naval ship. Imagine a functioning mid-shift hotel kitchen or a nursing home or a hospital concern where meals are prepared by the hundreds and even the thousands. You get the idea. Everything – including mess – is go go go.

Raw ingredients and raw produce are in bulk, and the ingredients are prepped and heated on massive griddles and stovetops. And by the end of the shift – with all that slip and slop and slap – the kitchen gunk is well and truly grimed in.

Ordinary cleaning products will not do the job. You need an outstanding kitchen degreaser that can work wonders in minutes and do it in a way that is economically viable and also environmentally safe and sound. In today’s hospitality and services industry, this is what is expected. In today’s workplace climate, this is what is required.

Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green Kitchen Degreaser contains no petro solvents or harsh acids.  It easily dissolves kitchen grease, caked and burnt foodstuffs and encrusted carbon deposits on griddles, stovetops and spiders. Your work areas will sparkle and shine like new, and will be ready and rearing to go for the next shift. It can also be used on exhaust fans and extraction filters and because it does not contain caustics, you know you can switch on fans and filters without the usual first switch odour that is both unfavourable and potentially hazardous to your workforce.

With an Envirosafe Green rating for health, environment and transporting, you know you are using a product that achieves results and also respects the delicate balance of the planet and the immediate environment.

Just place griddles and spiders into soak tanks and dilute Extreme Green Kitchen degreaser in accordance with directions and soak tank size. Forget hours and hours of elbow grease and endless scouring. Envirosafe Extreme Green Kitchen Degreaser can do the job for you while respecting and sustaining our delicate and much loved environment.

Telephone Envirosafe Solutions now  1300 88 90 70

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Eye of the Tiger

Envirosafe Solutions takes a brief look at the plight of the endangered Sumatran Tiger.

For the past thirty years, Australia has had an ongoing love affair with the small island of Bali. It is now a major tourist destination for vacationers wishing to experience a brief glimpse of Asia and all it has to offer, whilst maintaining a steady connection with western style resort level accommodation and services.

But how many Australians actually move beyond this Hindu-based Island and venture further a field into the island regions of Sumatra, Java and the smattering of smaller islands than comprise this highly populated country? How many are aware that just a plane flight away, the great Sumatran Tiger is under threat of extinction?

Many indeed would be unaware of the plight of the Sumatran Tiger in the region of Bukit Tigapuluh. Bukit Tigapuluh is one of the last remaining remnants of lush rainforest that earned Indonesia the nickname “Jewel of the Equator” over seventy years ago. Most recently, World Wildlife Fund camera traps “recorded an astounding 12 tigers in just two months in this area, including two mothers with cubs and three young tiger siblings playfully chasing a leaf.”[1]

The sense of innocence this image conveys is palpable. Cubs and mothers in the wild, snatching and clawing at jungle leaves and fraying vines conjure an idyllic existence befitting the pride of the forest. And yet, there are only some 400 Sumatran Tigers remaining in the wild, along with another five surviving subspecies (Bengal, Amur, Malayan, Indochinese and Chinese.) Today, the total number of all these tigers is estimated to be as few as 3,200 which is a far cry from the 100,000 in existence around a century ago. WWF is working to build the political, financial and public support to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022.

Around 10% – or approximately 30 – of the world’s remaining Sumatran Tigers inhabit the forest of Bukit Tigapuluh (or Thirty Hills, as it translates to in English.) Half of Bukit Tigapuluh is national park, but the flatland forest areas favoured by The Sumatran Tiger, the Orangutan and endangered elephants – those low lying areas outside of National Park control – “are under immediate threat from large scale commercial logging from the pulp and paper industry.”[2]

Envirosafe Solutions has a “think before you print” workplace approach, and prides itself on the development and maintenance of workplace practices that translate to recycling, sustainability and low paper usage. Envirosafe Solutions understands that we all have a choice, and when we purchase the typing paper that sits on our office desks and home work stations, we can check to see that it is sourced from recycled paper or from plantation timber rather than old growth forest areas.

The Sumatran Tiger faces extinction. Our work and home habits and practices can have a direct and indirect impact on the sustainability of threatened species in Australia and Indonesia and beyond.

An ethical approach to the environment is possible with Envirosafe Solutions.

Phone them for eco-friendly products on 1300 88 90 70.

[1] http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2011/WWFPresitem21209.html?intcmp=HPPolaroid-CaughtonCamera

[2] Last Chance to Save Bukit Tigapuluh. Sumatran Tigers, elephants orang-utans and indigenous tribes face extinction along with forest. KKI WARSI,  Frankfurt Zoological Society, Eyes on the Forest, WWF-Indonesia, 2010.

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Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Envirosafe Solutions knows a healthy attitude to home and work practices – turning off lights and switches, reducing electricity, focusing on recyclables and even car-pooling, all contribute to effective impact in increments, on global warming and its associated problems.

Over the past twenty years there has been increasing speculation over the link between climate change and increased C02 emissions in the atmosphere and global warming or “climate change.”  In February 2011, just a few weeks after record torrential rainfall in Europe in the northern hemisphere and just a few weeks short of the devastating and historic Queensland floods, the ABC reported on a new study that again suggested a link between a heating earth atmosphere and increased rates of rainfall and human practices.

The study’s co-author, Dr. Francis Zwiers from Canada’s University of Victoria said it showed “that human-induced increases in greenhouse gases have contributed to the observed intensification of heavy precipitation events found over approximately two-thirds of data-covered parts of Northern Hemisphere land areas.”[1]

The Greenhouse Effect

Simply stated, the mean temperature of our earth’s surface and the world’s patterns of climate, are reliant on a finely tuned balance between the incoming short wave or solar energy and the dispersing or outgoing infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface.  Concentrations of greenhouse gases such as methane, C02, nitrous oxide and CFC’s lock and trap the outgoing infrared radiation and keep the planet warmer that it would otherwise be. With a rise in the concentration of greenhouse gases, comes an accompanying rise in the global temperature, which in turn leads to an amplified greenhouse effect and more tumultuous weather patterns. [2]

Dr Roger Stone from the University of QLD described the study as “robust,” and said that CSIRO studies focusing on South Eastern Queensland also indicated a link between increased rainfall or “deep convection” and climate change.[3] The events in Toowoomba, Grantham and Brisbane in recent months in Australia certainly indicated a pronounced rainfall pattern of unusual intensity that resulted in devastation to property, land and considerable loss of life.

Climate Change and global warming are high on the environmental discussion agenda at present. Envirosafe Solutions encourages sound and safe environmental practices at work and at home in an effort to reduce our human impact on the delicate climatic balances of the world.

Telephone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 88 90 70

1. Francis W. Zwiers Gabriele C. Hegerl Xuebin Zhang, Seung-Ki Min. Human Contribution to More Intense Precipitation Extremes. Nature Magazine 470. 378-381. (17 February 2011.)

[2] Vellinga, P., Van Verseveld, W.J., Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events. Pp. 6-10. Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Amsterdam, 2000.

[3] http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/17/3141472.htm

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Eco-Friendly Supply to Hospitals, Clinics and aged Care.

On Anzac Day each year, young and middle aged Australians are reminded of the reality of battle, and the realities faced by those older generations who lived through the horrors and vagaries of both The First and Second World Wars. But aside from that one day a year, how often do we stop to think about the older members of our society, their service to our community, and their current requirements in terms of comfort, safety, support and ongoing wellbeing?

Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green Range is a proud supplier to many industries and their products are ideally suited to hospitals, clinic and aged care concerns. It understands the requirement of Australia’s ageing population and the need to supply care facilities with products that match the standards deserved by our older community members. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics our  “population, like that of most developed countries, is ageing as a result of sustained low fertility and increasing life expectancy  Over the next several decades, population ageing is projected to have significant implications for Australia, including for health, labour force participation, housing and demand for skilled labour. (Australia to 2050: Future Challenges, January 2010 (Intergenerational Report 2010), Attorney-General’s Department).[1]

Population Aged 65 years and over.

Graph courtesy Australian Bureau Statistics 2010.

According to the same study, “over the past twenty years the number of people over the age of 85 years has increased by a massive 170.6%, compared with a total population growth of nearly 31% for the same period, and an increased life expectancy has contributed to this rise.” [2]

With an increasing proportion of this sector of the population requiring optimal health and aged care in later years, it is important for industry to stay abreast of the needs of this sector, in both an economic and ethical sense.

Hospitals, care facilities, nursing homes and aged care environments have a constant demand for high quality industrial liquids that are environmentally sound, safe and low-impact. The ageing populations housed by these facilities are fragile and susceptible to infection, disease and allergy, and that is why the use of low toxicity, low odour and non-irritating liquids such as those produced by Envirosafe Solutions is a must.

The Extreme Green Range is suitable for use in health care facilities, nursing homes and other aged care facilities, and includes Extreme Green Dishwasher Liquids for hand and machine dishwashing, as well as The Extreme Green Kitchen Degreaser and Heavy Duty Cleaner/Deodoriser. The latter is an exceptional multi-purpose cleaner and odour-control agent that is fully biodegradable and safe to use around the elderly. It will keep drain and sewerage facilities in large scale concerns free from unpalatable odours and organic build up and help the ageing communities residing in large facilities to live peacefully and freely with ease and comfort.

If you need to source exceptional eco-friendly products for your aged care facility or hospital, call Envirosafe Solutions and speak with one of their customer consultants on 1300 88 90 70.

[1] http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3201.0

[2] Ibid.

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Budget delivers ‘pollution subsidy’ reform

Budget TaxCompany tax breaks – labelled ‘pollution subsidies’ by green lobbyists – were under scrutiny in this year’s Federal Budget. The Government delivered an environmental winfall for the Greens, announcing it would reform the Fringe Benefit Tax in a move anticipated to cut company car usage and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time the Budget has retained the Fuel Tax Credit subsidy, a decision criticised by green revolution proponents but welcomed by the transport industry.

Reforms to a company tax subsidy criticised for encouraging car usage and increasing pollution has been welcomed by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

The ACF has praised the Federal Budget for supporting the green revolution and tackling the company Fringe Benefit Tax subsidy, claiming it encouraged fossil fuel use and resulted in increased in greenhouse gas emissions.

It claimed the tax subsidy cost taxpayers $1 billion each year and encouraged ‘excessive driving of company cars’ by offering higher tax relief for higher vehicle usage.

While praising promised reform of the Fringe Benefit tax, ACF chief executive Don Henry was critical of Budget environmental measures.

“The reform of the Fringe Benefit Tax subsidy saves the budget money and curbs greenhouse pollution from company cars, but the missed opportunity to adequately fund the protection and restoration of our natural environment will prove costly to all Australians in the future.”

The ACF said Government spending on key environmental programs was inadequate and criticised a decision to defer tax breaks for ‘green revolution’ buildings and cut $156 million from the National Solar Schools program.

It has called for further reform of so-called ‘pollution subsidies, singling out the Fuel Tax Credits scheme, which it claimed cost Australian taxpayers $5 billion each year.

“Every household in Australia is contributing about $200 a year so companies like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto don’t have to pay a single cent in tax for the diesel they use in their off-road mining operations – this subsidises pollution and must change.”

This view has been challenged by industry, including the transport sector which praised the Government for retaining the fuel tax credit system.

Australian Trucking Association chief executive Stuart St Clair said abolishing the fuel tax credits would only act to push up the prices of goods delivered by truck.

“The Australian Conservation Foundation attacked the Government for not doing away with our fuel tax credits. They want to abolish them because of their wrong-headed belief that more freight would be transported by rail.

“But there isn’t a railway siding at the back of your local supermarket. Their policy would simply push up prices for everyone who buys goods delivered by truck – and that’s every single person in Australia.”

The challenge facing heavy-polluters, including the transport industry, has been balancing the demand for products and services with the economic and social benefits of joining the green revolution. Some changes being considered by the transport industry include:

  • Switching to CNG, LPG or biofuel alternatives;
  • Improving vehicle aerodynamics to reduce drag;
  • Replacing solvent-based cleaners with environmental cleaning products;
  • Educating drivers on techniques to reduce fuel consumption.

Envirosafe Solutions has welcomed Budget measures that support the green revolution yet remains sensitive to the challenges facing Australian companies. It has been working with heavy-polluting industries including the transport and mining sectors to help achieve more sustainable practice.

The Perth-based suppliers of eco-friendly liquid products have biodegradable, natural-based solutions for nearly every commercial and industry chemical. Its Extreme Green range of environmentally friendly liquids include its Soil-Wetta, Dust Suppressor, Insect and Tar Remover and Solvent-free Degreaser. For more information on Envirosafe Solutions products contact 1300 88 90 70 or email: info@evss.com.au

Sources:

http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3397 http://www.primemovermag.com.au/news/article/fuel-tax-credits-remain

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Spotlight on the Arctic

Envirosafe Solutions is concerned with the current state of our Australian and Pacific environment and is keen to minimize the impact industry and business has on our fragile world. While a focus on environmental issues often has a regional and localised flavor, it is still important to cast an eye around the globe and to assess the current state of affairs in regions other than our own.

The Arctic region is a massive area encompassing 30 million km2 or approximately one sixth of the planet’s entire landmass. It stretches over more than twenty time zones and is home to more than 30 indigenous groups. It is also one of the cleanest natural environments in the world. According to CAFF – The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Fund – the pristine Arctic habitats for fauna and flora are in decline, and some species in the tundra, sea ice and lakes and peatlands areas are reducing in number.[1]

On May 12 2011, challenges Facing Biodiversity in a changing Arctic” will be presented by CAFF as a unique side event to the upcoming 7th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting to be held in Nuuk, Greenland.  Key Findings of the 2010 paper, The Arctic Biodiversity Trend -2010: Selected Indicators of Change” will be delivered in the hope of pressing home the harsh realities of global warming currently faced by the Arctic region and its inhabitants. The paper also notes these apparent biodiversity alterations in a region largely forgotten about by much of the world will have pronounced global repercussions and effects that will resonate in years to come.

The short summer breeding season of the Arctic exemplifies the richness of the region. During this brief window, nearly 280 bird species arrive in the Arctic from regions as far away as South Africa, New Zealand and South America. Here, they take advantage of the endless sun-stretched days and the accompanying fauna and flora productivity that explodes seasonally. The impact of a shrinking ice mass (over the past thirty years seasonal minimal sea ice in the Arctic has decreased by 45,000 km2 a year, and increased temperatures has affected those flora and fauna species that have limited distribution or specialized feeding habits that are reliant on ice foraging. Species such as the ivory gull are in stark decline. The majestic wild reindeer and caribou have also seen a 33% reduction in populations and it is unclear at this stage whether population numbers will rebound.[2]In addition, the region’s biodiversity is impacted by other stressors such as long range transport of contaminants, unsustainable harvesting of wild species and a continuing and relentless grab for resources.

Tundra eco-systems comprising “various species of sedges, grasses, lichens and moss are being replaced by species typical of more southern locations, such as evergreen shrubs. Trees are even beginning to encroach on the tundra and some models project that by 2100 the tree line will have advanced as much as 500 kilometres” with a consequent 50% reduction in the tundra habitat.[3]

Certainly the emerging issues and challenges facing the Arctic region are complex, and greater awareness and publicizing of the issues faced in the Northern Hemisphere is required.

Envirosafe Solutions continues to support the initiatives of the Arctic Council and understands the unique interplay between northern and southern hemisphere regions due to the migratory patterns and routes of so many of Australia’s diverse coastal and marine bird species.

Join the Green Revolution. Phone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 88 90 70.

[1] Challenges facing Biodiversity in a Changing Arctic. http://caffportal.arcticportal.org.presscentre

[2] The Arctic Biodiversity Trend -2010: Selected Indicators for Change. Sourced at http://caffportal.arcticportal.org/images/nuuk_deliverables/Booklet_ABA_English.pdf

[3] Ibid. Pp. 7-8.

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Breaking the Ice

Any industry where large scale refrigeration is used, is aware of the problems associated with ice build-up.  As fluids are spilled in cool rooms and refrigeration areas, these convert to ice sheets and solids that are annoying, obstructive and unsafe. Ice build ups also contribute to increased energy consumption and electricity bills because as the ice builds up, motors need to work harder to maintain cool temperatures in storage units and cool room areas.

Envirosafe Solutions produces a quality ice breaker product that is non-biocidic and far safer to use than other ice breaks on the market.  The Extreme Green Ice Break contains only user-friendly non-hazardous solvents which are less harmful than harsher chemically based ice-breaks. It contains absolutely NO ethers or chlorides associated with other brands, and this means minimal risk to the operator and to the equipment. User friendly not only means increased safety in the workplace, but reduced cost and outgoings.  With Extreme Green Ice Break there is no need for layers and layers of expensive protective equipment and clothing, and this translates to increased efficiencies in terms of time taken for task done, a reduction in cost in relation to hazard protection clothing expenditure, and disruptions to work schedules in the affected cool room or refrigeration area.

One of the central benefits of this product is its rapid-action reaction with the ice surface. Once Extreme Green Ice Break is applied, the process of dismantling the iced area can begin within minutes. Because of its low toxicity it is also safe to use around foodstuffs, which means its use and application in rural and agricultural sectors is safe and effective.

It is specifically designed to remove “stain encrusted ice in cool rooms and chiller unit, as well as ice formed from water spills and staining,” which means your environments will not only be slip-free, but will present as fresh and clean as new.[1] Additionally, this product is simple and easy to use. Just follow the directions and apply with an atomizer, a brush or a broom. There’s no need for hours of waiting…just give it two or three minutes of contact time and then begin the process of brushing or wiping off.  It’s also extremely versatile and can be applied to a myriad of surfaces including glass, concrete, metals including steel and aluminium, painted surfaces and even plastic and Perspex.

And because it is safer to use than other ice breaks, it is easier to clean up and dispose of.

If you require a product that can reduce ice-build ups and stain encrusted frozen areas in your cool rooms and refrigeration units, then Extreme Green Ice Break is ideal for you and your business.

Simple purchase of this product is just a phonecall away.

Call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 88 90 70.

[1] http://www.envirosafesolutions.com.au/productinnerpage.php?cat=29&product=38