Cooking up a solution to pan pollution
NEW research shows that 72 per cent of Australians throw their non-stick cookware in the bin once they are finished with it.
And that equates to 2.7 million pieces of cookware ending up in landfill every year.
Much of it contains harmful PFAS (or “forever chemicals”), the toxins of which, end up in the soil and our bodies, never breaking down.
There’s a push on banning PFAS in Australia by 2025 across various industries, yet there are no immediate plans to look at the cookware industry, which has been heavily using PFAS in non-stick cookware since the 1940s and which doesn’t require manufacturers to comply with any standards or regulations.
In a bid to address the problem The Ironclad Co. is urging consumers to rethink their cookware choices.
The Australian-made cast iron cookware is created with sustainability and longevity at its core, offers a “Three Generation Guarantee” and promises none of the harmful PFAS found in most non-stick pots and pans.
The company was founded in 2019 by Kate Slavin, Levi Slavin and Joe Carter with the aim of creating a sustainable product that would be a return to beautiful craft and traditional techniques.
In an era of disposable ‘stuff’, the team wanted to create a high-quality product that would last and leave a healthier planet for future generations.
The Ironclad Co. are committed to replacing customers’ Ironclad cookware for three generations, or 100 years, from the date of purchase: and that’s the longest legally binding product warranty there is.
Co-founder Kate Slavin said the majority of recycling plants don’t accept non-stick cookware, which is why they end up in the bin.
“Given the fact that non-stick pans need replacing every few years, that number really adds up,” Ms Slavin said.
“It’s also bad for our soil and waterways because the material doesn’t break down. Not in the soil. Not in our bodies. Not ever.
“There is a push to ban PFAS in Australia by 2025, but that’s still thousands of pans away.
“To raise awareness, we’ve partnered with the Kitchen Warehouse to launch The Great Pan Exchange.
“You can take your old pots and pans into a participating Kitchen Warehouse and trade them for discounts on Ironclad cookware.”
The cast iron range includes Heirloom, Legacy Pan, Lil’ Legacy, Old Dutch and Grand Legacy Grill and Pan.
All of them are suitable for any cooking surface, including open fire and induction.
There are also accessories to go with your cookware, including a Wool Handle Blades and Steel Set, Pan Snugs, a Care Kit, a Hungry Dad Apron and more.
Ironclad cookware is made with purified recycled iron. No materials are taken from the ground in manufacturing.
“In addition to the environmental and health implications of non-stick cookware, the economic impact is also worth considering,” Ms Slavin said.
“If 75 per cent of households in Australia spend $100 on a non-stick pan this year, and the average lifespan of these is three years, that’s almost $7 billion thrown straight in the bin by Australians – and that’s if they only buy one pan this year.”
To find out more you can visit their website at: www.ironcladpan.com.au
Image: Kate Slavin is one of the co-founders of The Ironclad Co.
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