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New freight program drives environmental change

Fuel price hikes have plagued operators within the transport industry, which has also come under increasing scrutiny over carbon emissions. Tackling these two issues has been the impetus for an innovative pilot program between the Victorian EPA and Victorian Transport Association dubbed EcoStation. By reducing fuel consumption the program aims to help the industry join the green revolution while meeting Australia’s freight demands, tipped to double by 2020.

Insect & Tar Remover, Diesel Bug Killer

Saving on fuel costs and saving the environment has been the driving force behind a Victorian transport initiative.

EcoStation was established by the Victorian Transport Association and the State’s EPA and boasts the participation of transport heavyweights, including Woolworths, Coles, Holden, Toyota, Schweppes and National Foods. The 2009 pilot program was modelled on the US EPA  SmartWay programs and aims to set a national benchmark for Australia’s freight industry.

Under the program participating companies measure fuel consumption and emissions, employ fuel reduction strategies and report the results to EcoStation. The program offers fuel reduction innovations.

Freight Emissions in Australia

Figures supplied by EcoStation show Australian roads are home to about 2.9 million trucks, ranging from light commercial vehicles to heavy articulated vehicles. This accounts for about 35.5 billion litres of fuel and about 96 million tonnes greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

The core premise behind the EcoStation program is that small changes can significantly reduce the industry’s total emissions. Its approach to reducing emissions includes:

  • Driver training and education programs;
  • Switching to alternative drivetrains and more sustainable fuel types such as compressed natural gas (CNG), LPG or biofuels;
  • Improving vehicle aerodynamics to reduce drag and the loss of energy.

Participants have reported significant cost and environmental savings by implementing changes. These include an 18% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 22% fuel saving by Gosford Council following a decision to invest in CNG trucks. Similar savings have been achieved by other participating companies, according to the EcoStation website.

Eco-credentials key to freight future

The EcoStation program reflects a commitment by transport operators to reduce the industry’s environmental impacts.

Technologies and practices which cut emissions are being embraced by participating large retailers, transport operators, car manufacturers and government organisations. The success of the pilot program highlights just how important small measures can be in driving big change.

Perth-based environmental cleaning products company Envirosafe Solution has been at the forefront of the green revolution. It employs sustainable workplace practices and has been proudly supplying business including freight operators with sustainable eco-friendly industrial liquid products. Envirosafe Solutions Australian-made products are all biodegradable, harness the power of natural agents and do not contain harmful phosphates.

Its Extreme Green range includes Insect and Tar Remover, a safe, powerful and cost-effective solution to washing vehicles while its revolutionary Diesel Bug Killer eliminates fuel slime, saving money while reducing maintenance issues and emissions.

Envirosafe Solutions director Murray Simon said environmental challenges facing the transport industry were significant and welcomed the introduction of the EcoStation program.

“There’s no side-stepping the fact that motorised vehicles and machines are crucial to the industry but sustainable environmental practice such as the use of eco-friendly industrial liquid products can significantly help reduce environmental risks.”

For more information on Envirosafe Solutions environmental cleaning product range phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources :

http://www.ecostation.com.au/AboutEcoStation/

http://primemovermag.com.au/featured/article/the-greening-of-australian-trucking

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Eco-tourism catching on in mainstream hotels, parks

Accommodation providers offering everything from cabins nestled in woodland settings to urban backpacker hostels have caught onto the eco-tourism movement. The green revolution has captured the attention of travellers and the tourism industry, driving environmentally sustainable practices, including reduced energy consumption and the use of environmental cleaning products. Today we take a look at the eco-tourism movement.

Dishwashing Liquid, Glass Cleaner, Anti-bacterial Handwash

Thirty years ago Australian eco-tourism was largely the domain of small, nature-based tour operators but the movement has increasingly been embraced by the mainstream.

Walk into any city hotel room and you will notice the change: The small sign posted in the bathroom encouraging guests to refrain from using a daily linen service; the carefully selected bottle of organic, sulphate-free shampoo in the shower; the unlabelled, refillable bottle of dishwashing liquid under the sink; the nearby paper recycling bin.

Accommodation venues have also started listing energy reducing initiatives and other green credentials – including the use of eco-friendly liquid products – in their brochures and guest information folders.

For every cynical guest discounting these changes as simple cost-cutting, many more are embracing the measures as a sign operators care for the health and future of its guests and the environment.

Evaluating the authenticity of green assertions can be difficult as terms such as green and eco-friendly can be bandied without independent scrutiny.

In Australia there are several eco-certification schemes in place including:

  • Ecotourism Australia, a respected eco-certification organisation for nature-based operators but less suited to city accommodation properties;
  • Green STAR Ratings – Most travellers will be familiar with STAR ratings and the Eco-Friendly STAR logo identifies venues which have undertaken energy efficiency, waste management, water minimisation and guest education;
  • EarthCheck (Green Globe) is an international green credential certification body which allows operators to measure their resource use and waste outputs;
  • Some operators self-evaluate their green credentials outside of official accreditation schemes, motivated by the opportunity to reduce their environmental footprint.

Some of the simple measures being implemented by hotels, parks and hostels in rural and metropolitan settings include linen reuse programs, low-flow showerheads, low-flow toilets, sensor lights and the use of refillable guest products such as shampoo or laundry powder.

Easily-accessible bins for recyclable products such as papers and milk and juice cartons have become widely available at caravan parks and hotels.

Environmental cleaning products reduce water and soil contamination. Biodegradable, low-toxic products are available to replace most chemical cleaners.

Perth-based Envirosafe Solutions supplies its Extreme Green range of eco-friendly industrial liquids to accommodation providers across Australia.

Director Murray Simon said eco products not only delivered results comparable to harsh cleaners but were economical and sustainable. He added that efforts to reduce environmental impacts helped hospitality operators connect with their guests.

“Discerning travellers are increasingly seeking out green credentials when choosing accommodation venues – they would rather spend their money at environmentally-responsible enterprises.”

Envirosafe Solutions’ environmental cleaning product range includes dishwashing liquid, glass cleaner, gentle, triclosan-free anti-bacterial handwash and biodegradable, low-phosphate laundry powder.

As Australian eco-tourism moves beyond nature-based operators to mainstream accommodation providers, the use of environmentally sustainable practices and products – including eco-friendly industrial liquids – has been embraced. For more information on eco-friendly products tailored to the hospitality industry phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://www.austconserv.com/topics/travel-and-transportation/ecohotel-wins-australia-s-best-eco-friendly-holidays.html

http://www.globalstewards.org/hotel.htm

http://www.ecohotel.com.au/links.html

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Biofuels could fuel 30% of nation’s transport needs: CSIRO

The demand for more sustainable energy has led to the release of hybrid cars and low emission vehicles. Yet new research into biofuel production promises a more widespread solution to our reliance on finite fossil fuel resources. As the world churns through its crude oil resources, questions of fuel security and sustainability become more pressing. Research by Australia’s CSIRO is looking to the future of extreme green fuels.

Fuel Conditioner, Extreme Green, Diesel Bug Killer

An $8.3 million project has been launched to develop new biofuels that could potentially provide up to 30 percent of Australia’s future transport needs.

The CSIRO Energy Transformed Cluster on Biofuels was launched in Canberra in March 2011. Its aims include developing new, economically viable processes for producing fuels from plant and algal matter.

It has the potential to further propel an emerging green revolution in the transport sector, which produces the third highest greenhouse gas emissions in Australia behind stationary electricity production and agriculture.

As the transport industry struggles with increasing fuel costs and scrutiny over its environmental footprint, demand for new technologies are expanding beyond existing fuel conditioners and treatments. These include the emission-reducing Extreme Green Diesel Bug Killer (one of the environmental cleaning products available from leading Australian eco product supplier Envirosafe Solutions).

The way forward

CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship director Dr Alex Wonhas said not only would sustainable biofuels reduce transport emissions and secure future energy supplies, they would also create new industries.

“Second-generation biofuels that are produced from agricultural waste could potentially be a cost competitive, low-carbon fuel that will keep our cars on the road and planes in the sky. As oil supplies decline and petrol prices soar, alternatives such as biofuels could become economically very attractive.”

CSIRO modelling has found that while hybrid vehicles have become available fully electric vehicles remain a distant possibility, meaning the world will continue to rely on liquid or gas fuels for the next 10 to 40 years.

Australia’s declining oil reserves and high fuel consumption means its sectors are vulnerable to rising petrol and diesel prices.

Producing biofuel

Research into second generation biofuels has been concentrated on the following energy sources:

  • Biomass, which is derived from plant material including forestry, newspaper and agricultural waste. A sustainable ethanol can be produced from lignocelluloses, a biomass derived from sugar cane or sawmill by-products;
  • Algae, which offers potential to produce biodiesel more cost-effectively and with less greenhouse gas emissions than fossil based fuel.

Research into cost-effective, extreme green sustainable biofuels offers exciting possibilities. These include the potential to reduce the environmental footprint of the road transport and aviation sector, while producing fuel security amid heavy consumption of finite fossil fuel supplies. Cost-effective production remains a key focus.

Supporting this green revolution emerging within the transport and aviation sectors has been a priority for Envirosafe Solutions. Its range of eco-friendly liquid products not only offers less toxic cleaning and maintenance solutions for these industries, they also include fuel conditioners and treatments which produce cleaner emissions. For more information Diesel Bug Killer and other eco-friendly industrial liquids tailored phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://www.csiro.au/news/Biofuels-researchers-to-turn-waste-into-wealth.html

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Phosphates come out of the wash for Aussie households

A successful campaign against phosphate-based laundry detergents has highlighted the benefits of using environmental cleaning products. Australia has been lagging behind countries such as the United States, which banned phosphates in household laundry cleaners in 1993 amid concerns over impacts on waterways and wildlife. Australian supermarkets followed suit in April, 2011.

Extreme Green, Hard Water - Laundry Liquid, Fabric Conditioner

Domestic laundry products containing phosphates will be phased out in Australia following a campaign highlighting its environmental impact on waterways.

Phosphates are widely used in laundry products as a water softener and to remove dirt but have been identified as a cause of blue-green algae in rivers. Algal blooms strip oxygen from waterways, killing fish and plant life.

One of the worst cases of algal bloom was along a 1000km stretch of the Barwon-Darling River in NSW in 1991. The ‘pea soup’ bloom killed fish, sheep and cattle and, according to the CSIRO, was caused by low river-flow and resulting high concentrations of nutrients, including phosphorous. Cleaning products and fertilisers contribute to phosphate levels.

Phosphates have been banned in household laundry products in the US since the 1990s as part of a consumer-led push for environmental cleaning products. The European Union introduced regulations in 2004 with the aim of phasing-out phosphate-based products.

Supermarket chain Aldi was the first to answer the Australian phosphate-free charge, announcing in April that by 2013 its shelves would only stock phosphate-free laundry products. Coles and Woolworths have followed suit, promising to remove phosphates from its own home brand laundry products.

The moves have been welcomed by environmental advocacy group Do Something, which launched the national ban-phosphate campaign in October 2010, endorsing instead the use of environmental cleaning products.

Founder and 2010 Australian of the Year John Dee welcomed the action by the supermarkets and applauded the announcement by Unilever – the makers of major supermarket laundry brands – that its products would no longer contain phosphates.

The influential environmental campaigner said that Australians did 1.9 billion laundry washes a year and that switching to phosphate-free environmental cleaning products would make a big difference.

“If everyone was to use the no-phosphate alternatives it would reduce greenhouse emissions by about 85,000 tonnes, which is the equivalent of taking 33,000 cars off the road.”

Mr Dee said that 308 million Americans had been washing clothes with phosphate-free laundry powders. “If it works over there, there is absolutely no reason why it won’t here.”

Eco-friendly liquid products offer a sustainable substitute to traditional cleaners, which often contain harsh solvents. Examples of toxic solvents include N-Methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP), Tolene and Trichloroethylene (TCE), which have been linked to health problems including skin conditions, asthma, organ failure and foetal defects. Many traditional cleaning products are also high in phosphates and acids.

Envirosafe Solutions is a leading Australian environmental cleaning products company. It supplies industry, government and corporate sectors with eco-friendly cleaning alternatives. Its industrial-strength laundry formulas – Extreme Green Hard Water Laundry Liquid or Powder – are low in phosphates and fully biodegradable. Its fabric conditioner does not contain phosphate.

The move by major Australian supermarkets to remove phosphate-based laundry products from their shelves proves what Envirosafe Solutions and its customers have known for decades – environmental cleaning products can effectively replace toxic cleaners. For more information on laundry products or other sustainable cleaning alternatives, contact Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://dosomething.net.au/issues.aspx

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/toxies-awards-chemicals/

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/detergentsinfo.htm

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Carbon neutral flights won’t cost the earth

Cut-price fares have made air travel available to more Australian passengers but paying a little extra may be the solution to a more sustainable future. Carbon neutral flights offset emissions and are offered by most Australian airlines as part of the Federal Government’s National Carbon Offset Standard. This extreme green program has helped the flying public reduce the environmental cost of air travel.

Extreme green, green revolution, eco-friendly industrial liquids

Paying more for your next air fare may not be as bad as it sounds.

Carbon offset flights give passengers the option of flying carbon neutral by paying an additional cost on top of their ticket price to offset flight emissions.

Airlines pay the funds into carbon offset programs certified by the Federal Government’s NCOS Carbon Neutral initiative, a voluntary scheme allowing Australian businesses to calculate, minimise and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon neutral flights are being offered by airlines as part of a shift toward the green revolution by the aviation sector. This heavy emitting industry has been moving toward more sustainable practice, including production of biofuels and the use of eco-friendly industrial liquids such as the Extreme Green Insect and Tar Remover offered by Perth-based Envirosafe Solutions.

Making a difference

The NCOS Carbon Neutral initiative was established by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and is administered by the Australian Carbon Trust.

Trust CEO said carbon neutral flights were about giving the flying public ‘a very real and convenient way to take action on climate change at an individual level’.

Qantas chief executive Rob Kella said the airline’s carbon offset scheme was part of its overall environment strategy.

“(Since 2007) all contributions received have gone towards purchasing carbon offsets generated by accredited abatement projects. The program has offset over 850,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions to date. This is the equivalent of taking around 200,000 cars off the road for a year.”

Reducing airline emissions

Staying grounded is best for the environment but avoiding flying completely is not always practical. Participating in a carbon offset program, such as those offered through airlines or through independent carbon offset providers, is the next best step.

An investigation by the Stockholm Environment Institute has found the following variables effect fuel emissions and should be considered when calculating carbon offsets:

  • Aircraft technology, including weight reduction, aerodynamics and engine design;
  • Flight distance – longer routes burn more fuel;
  • Seat occupancy and seat class;
  • Radiative Forcing Index (RFI), which in the context of airline emissions calculation refers to the extra warming effects that occur as a result of the emissions occurring in the air.

Carbon offset programs, aircraft technology, the development of biofuels and the use of sustainable products such as eco-friendly industrial liquids are among the initiatives allowing the aviation sector to support the green revolution.

Australian environmental cleaning products suppliers Envirosafe Solution recognises the value of carbon offset programs and reduces its own corporate environmental footprint by donating to Carbon Neutral. It Extreme Green range caters to the aviation industry and offers a low-toxic, sustainable option to traditional commercial cleaners. For more information on Insect & Tar Remover and other eco-friendly industrial liquids phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://www.carbonoffsetguide.com.au/aviation_offsets

http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/03/qantas-jetstar-achieve-carbon-neutral-certification/

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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

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Big Business is Green Business

Every year, Cleanup Australia releases its annual rubbish report, and for the sixteenth consecutive year, plastic came in at number one as the most ubiquitous form of rubbish littering our beautiful country. And not much is different overseas. The Pacific plastic soup grows larger day by day, and the problem with plastic bags continues for marine life such as turtles, fish, sea birds and dolphins and whales. While some Australian store chains such as Target have replaced their free supply of plastic bags with pay per bag programs using biodegradable substitutes[1], the issue remains widespread and endemic.

In Bangalore in India, the problem is even worse. Each day, 9000 tonnes of plastic contributes to the waste of this city, clogging streets and roads and parks at an alarming rate. However, there is one businessman who has turned this massive problem into a win-win for the Bangalore community and population and for his own family run business.[2]

For many years, K. Ahmed Khan ran a Bangalore factory producing the very plastic bags that are creating pollution havoc around the world. With his brother, he sought to redress this imbalance and turned his efforts into reusing plastic waste products and plastic bags in novel and new ways that were useful, financially viable and ethical. At a local Bangalore dump yard, he began experimenting with a mix of bitumen and shredded plastic from discarded bags and plastic refuse, employing the “untouchable” rag pickers to fossick through the dumps and collect as much of the plastic rubbish as they were able. [3]

Bangalore lies in the southern region of India and is subject to high monsoonal rainfall that impacts city infrastructure annually. Roads, bridges, road surfaces and other structures are frequently washed away, pot-holed and pitted by the relentless rains, costing the regional government billions and billions of rupiah in road upkeep and replacement.

K .Ahmed Khan and his brother began an application of the new bitumen mix as road surface and tested its ongoing durability. Fortified with the recycled shredded plastic acting as a powerful binding agent, the new mix not only satisfied the local Bangalore community but also led to the eventual development of a more durable road surface that lasts years longer than the previous road surface mix. As Khan himself explains, “Typically, bitumen is mixed with new plastic, but what we’re doing is mixing it with plastic from bottles and food packages and plastic bags.” It’s a simple and easy solution to a pressing environmental problem. And, as a result, this successful business no longer demands new plastic for its road mix, and uses an existing and recyclable supply that’s already a cause for concern in Bangalore and its many dumps. And it also employs some of the poorest members of the Bangalore population in the process.

Business like KK Plastic in Bangalore in India, and Envirosafe Solutions in Australia can, and are, making a difference. Envirosafe Solutions’ Extreme Green Range of products is far less toxic to the environment than many standard liquid products. Telephone Envirosafe Solutions for more information on their Extreme Green range on 1300 88 90 70

[1]http://www.target.com.au/html/aboutus/img/compostablebags/mediarelease2009.pdf

[2] Relph, M.K. Where the roads are paved with plastic. http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2011/04/18/3192740.htm

[3] http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangalore-activist-on-the-road-to-plastic-success-story/46501-3.html

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A Bug’s Life

It’s a bug’s life! Or is it?

Any industry that uses diesel fuel will be beset by the good old “fuel or diesel bug.” More commonly known as Cladisporium resinae, or Hormoconis resinae, the sludge waste produced by this nasty little critter has the potential to corrode the metal structure of fuel tanks, in turn risking human life and blowing out cost to industry.

The good old diesel bug actually lives in the water found in fuel, and is known to collect at the base of tanks, near drainage sectors and vent bays and areas where condensation may occur. While large scale fungi infestations could lead to blockages in the fuel system, the most pressing problem lies with the more commonly occurring corrosion that is a frequent accompaniment to smaller-scale infestations. In aviation especially, it can cause pitting and corrosion to the fuel tanks and wing structure which has potentially life-threatening consequences.[1]

A successful and cost-effective eradication plan for the fuel bug needs to be a part of any business that is reliant on diesel and fuel. And in this day and age, it is important any implemented plan is also environmentally safe and sound.

Envirosafe Solutions has a one-stop answer to the problem. Efficient, easy to use and with negligible environmental impact, The Extreme Green Diesel Bug Killer is a fast and effective method of control and eradication – safeguarding industry, the environment and human populations against this pervasive little pest. And, “when added to fuel, it absorbs all the water, thus breaking the chain in the environment in which the Diesel Bug can survive. Without water, the bug suffocates and dies, and passes through the filter system until it is finally killed by the combustion process. Most importantly, the diesel bug cannot re-infest when Extreme Green Diesel Bug Killer is mixed in the fuel.[2]

Envirosafe Solutions suggests you follow these key maintenance issues in the control of the diesel bug:

  • Carry out water drain checks of the fuel tanks regularly and include vent and surge bays.
  • Ensure that all water is removed.
  • Keep the tanks full if possible (more fuel means less room for condensation to occur).
  • Perform regular testing to monitor the fuel quality.
  • Clean tanks thoroughly.
  • Fuel fungi are most common in tropical environments, so the northern regions of Australia can be particularly impacted.
  • Also, take extra care in more remote areas where there may be less control over fuel quality. Regular maintenance and checking is vital in these regions. [3]

When seeking solutions to the diesel bug for your business and industry, look no further than Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green Diesel Bug Killer. Telephone Envirosafe Solutions now on 1300 88 90 70.

[1] Bowden, D. Attack of the Fungi. Flight Safety Australia Sept-Oct 2005 pp 50-51. http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/fsa/2005/oct/50-51.pdf

[2] http://www.envirosafesolutions.com.au/productinnerpage.php?cat=14&product=12

[3] Bowden, D. Attack of the Fungi. Flight Safety Australia Sept-Oct 2005 pp 50-51. http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/fsa/2005/oct/50-51.pdf

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Our Ningaloo

Envirosafe Solutions focus on the local West Australian natural environment.

Envirosafe Solutions, manufacturers of Extreme Green products, takes pride in its green approach to business and industry. The management team places a major emphasis on the development of effective products that are safe to use and that have a low-impact on our environment internationally, nationally and locally. And it is this local environment that requires delicate respect and protection. After all, our local environs are “our own backyard.”  And it all starts with home.

The West Australian local environment is one of unsurpassed beauty. Travel north from the capital and you are overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the pristine coastline and all it has to offer. The fracas and hustle and bustle of the east coast of Australia is absent, and the experience is one of pure exhilaration.

Ningaloo Reef, 1200km north of Perth, is arguably the jewel in the crown of the Western Australian natural marine environment. It is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef and is uniquely positioned extremely close to land mass. This unrivalled aspect of its novel positioning makes it the only reef of its kind in the world. It is the only large reef in the world that can be accessed so easily from mainland. (At its closest it stands just 100 metres from shore and at its furthest, less than 7 km.) This contributes to its popularity as a prime destination for West Australian locals as well as eco-tourists from our own continent and beyond.

On the 7th May 1987, the area was declared a Commonwealth Marine Park and because it “is located in a transition zone between temperate and tropical waters,”[1] it sustains a vast array of plant and marine species from both these zones as well as novel geomorphic features. The reserve is also well-known for its annual migration of whale sharks. Tim Winton, West Australian author and Australian “national treasure,” described his first ever meeting with a whale shark as one of the best of his life:

“And there, out of the hazy deeps, loomed a great shadow. The water was blurry with plankton and jellyfish and this thing looked like a Zeppelin floating out of the clouds. I just couldn’t comprehend the sheer size of it….The shark blocked out the sun. I could feel the passage of it through the water as I swam on my back trying to keep pace with it until, eventually, I fell back in the turbulence of its wake. I surfaced with a whoop of exhilaration. I felt privileged to have had those few moments.

I knew I’d come to a special place, somewhere precious.”[2]

Ningaloo Reef is our Ningaloo. And the products we use at home, in our businesses and in our industries are inextricably linked in with the natural environment, locally, nationally and internationally. That is why it’s important to source and select environmentally sound products from environmentally sound companies like Envirosafe Solutions who have a comprehensive understanding of their ethical responsibilities to the environment, the planet and its inhabitants.

In 2011, we as a world community are beginning to appreciate the considerable long-term harm resulting from the use of toxic chemical products. Let’s steer ourselves towards household, business and industry best practice and source products such as those from Envirosafe Solutions that have a far-reduced impact on the beauties of our own backyard. It’s our world. Let’s look after it.

Call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 8890 70.

[1] Australian Government. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/ningaloo/index.html

[2] Winton, Tim. Save Ningaloo. http://www.save-ningaloo.org/frames/page6.shtml

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Green cleaning products key to workplace safety

A global framework for the classification and labelling of chemicals is being adopted in Australia. It will be phased-in from 2012 and will form part of health and safety protocols within Australian workplaces. Chemical cleaning products are associated with skin and respiratory irritation for workers in cleaning, mechanical, mining and healthcare sectors. In addition the transportation and disposal of these chemicals create significant environmental impacts. Today we look at reducing these risks through the use of low-toxicity, natural-based environmental cleaning products.

Cleaning products can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation and are an important consideration in health and safety guidelines for Australian workplaces.

Workers in cleaning, healthcare and education sectors as well as mining, industrial and mechanical workplaces are exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis.

New labelling and safe handling guidelines are being adopted by SafeWork Australia, which will replace existing separate classifications for hazardous substances and dangerous goods.

The new model for workplace hazardous chemicals will utilise the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, developed under the auspices of the United Nations. It will outline health and safety regulations and clear guidelines on correct labelling and material safety data sheets (MSDS). Its phased implementation will be rolled out from next year.

Health and environmental risks

Exposure to toxic cleaning products needs to be minimised to protect workers. According to the US EPA website – which promotes the use of eco-friendly cleaning products – the health and environmental risks from cleaning products include:

  • Contamination of wastewater through the rinsing and cleaning of sponges, storage containers containing residual product;
  • Risks to aquatic species and wildlife from wastewater contaminated with chemicals such as alkylphenol ethoxylates – a common surfactant in cleaners – which has been identified as an endocrine (hormone) disrupter;
  • Poor water quality caused by chemicals containing phosphorus or nitrogen;
  • Poor indoor air quality created by the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) found in cleaning products.
  • Environmental risks associated with the transportation, storage and disposal of commercial cleaning products.

The US EPA states that actual risk from typical workplace exposure was uncertain but that: “Regardless of the expected risk levels… reducing the intrinsic hazard of a product is a desirable pollution prevention objective as part of decisions that also take into account other important product attributes”.

Benefits of ‘Buying Green’

Health and environmental concerns associated with workplace chemicals has led to the development of eco-friendly liquid products. Typical characteristics of environmentally friendly liquids are biodegradability, low toxicity and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) content.

Perth-based environmental cleaning products company Envirosafe Solutions has been supplying Australian workplaces with safe, effective and affordable eco-friendly liquid products for more than 20 years. Envirosafe Solutions’ Extreme Green cleaning alternatives, including its solvent-free degreaser, cater for the cleaning, industrial, mining, healthcare and government sectors. For more information phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au/SafetyInYourWorkplace/HazardousSubstancesAndDangerousGoods/FAQs/Pages/FAQs.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/cleaning.htm

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Today’s wastewater tomorrow’s drinking water

An ambitious city-wide water recycling program is being developed for Sydney to combat water shortages. The project aims to reduce demands on drinking water supplies and represents a growing trend towards recycling wastewater for irrigating lawns, parks and vegetation and more contentiously, drinking. Seawater desalination has become another tool to secure water and a new plant will supply drinking water to the city of Adelaide. Today we look at different water initiatives and the role of eco-friendly liquid products in limiting toxins entering wastewater that could be tomorrow’s drinking water.

Sydney has unveiled an ambitious water recycling plan which it claims will see it become Australia’s first city to develop a city-wide recycled water network.

The City of Sydney council has appointed a consortium to develop models for the project, which aims to reduce demands on drinking water supplies. The planning group consists of researchers, engineers and consultants.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said the water plan, part of the global Green Revolution, would provide a model for other Australian cities. “In the longer term our drinking water supplies will come under increasing pressure from a growing population and climate change with hotter and dryer weather predicted over the coming decades.”

The recycled water project would supplement water supplied to apartments, commercial and institutional buildings, which account for 80 percent of water usage in the Sydney area. The water plan will also incorporate projects that reduce pollutants from entering waterways. Eco-friendly liquid products limit toxic chemicals from contaminating wastewater.

Saltwater to freshwater

Further South, a seawater desalination plant is being commissioned at Port Stanvac to supply drinking water to the city of Adelaide. The $1.83 billion project uses reverse osmosis to treat seawater and has been earmarked for completion by December 2012. The first drop of water should be produced by the end of July this year.

The South Australian Government expects capacity at the plant to grow to 100 billion litres by the end of 2012

Perth was the first Australian city to receive desalinated water for large-scale consumption after its Kwinana plant began pumping desalinated seawater in November of 2006. It supplies an estimated 17 percent of the city’s water needs. A seawater deslination plant is being built in Victoria to provide an estimated 150 billion litres of water by the end of this year.

Across Australia government and industry have invested heavily in the treatment of greywater, effluent, stormwater and seawater to secure water resources for the future. Water recycling has also been adopted across other parts of the globe, including Singapore, California, Florida, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Key to treating wastewater has been the issue of water quality and the contaminants regularly flushed into water systems, including debris, oils, and chemical pollutants.

Leading Perth-based environmental cleaning products company Envirosafe Solutions has been working with Australian businesses for more than 20 years providing biodegradable eco-friendly industrial liquids.

These products utilise natural cleaning agents, have a low-toxicity rating and are biodegradable. Envirosafe Solutions’ commitment to ecological sustainability supports industry and government efforts to reduce water contamination without sacrificing performance. Its range includes the mining and industrial environmentally friendly liquid Extreme Green Insect and Tar Remover, a fully biodegradable product which is effective even when heavily diluted. For more information phone 1300 88 90 70 or email info@evss.com.au.

Sources:

http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/html/4477-sydney-plan-for-australias-first-city-wide-recycled-water-network.asp

http://www.sawater.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/076CFEFE-B2E1-450F-83AE-A19B131649C9/0/MedRelADPDelayJan2011.pdf

http://www.watercorporation.com.au/D/desalination.cfm

http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/water_recycling/what_is_recycled_water/what_is_recycled_water.asp