Wednesday, January 13, 2016

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF FLUORIDE IS REMOVED FROM THE DRINKING WATER WILL TOOTH DECAY RATES INCREASE WHEN FLUORIDATION ENDS?



Jim Maxey DDS
DentalConfessions.com 


Communities that are ending fluoridation should consider themselves very fortunate to be eliminating this very toxic arsenic laced industrial waste fluorosilicic acid chemical from their water supply. However, I know there will be a slew of dentists and other pro fluoride folks who will begin to rave on and on and on that tooth decay rates will now double or triple when fluoridation ends.   Rest assured that will never happen as these misinformed dentists aren't aware that there has never been even one controlled study that scientifically documents that water fluoridation has ever reduced or prevented tooth decay. Since water fluoridation has never been shown to reduce or prevent tooth decay…how can removing it from the drinking water cause tooth decay rates to increase?

The American Dental Associations (ADA) “classical” water fluoridation/tooth decay “studies” the ADA used back in the 1940’s and 50’s to justify their  endorsement of water fluoridation were nothing more than orchestrated and carefully scripted unscientific publications that were  intentionally sculptured to create the illusion that fluoride had something to do with reducing tooth decay rates.

H. Trendley Dean, DDS, was the chief dental officer at the US Public Health Service and who the ADA refers to as the “Father of water fluoridation.”  Dr. Dean was responsible for designing and creating those "classical" fluoridated water/tooth decay studies done by the UPSHS in the 1940’s and early 1950’s.  Dr. Dean, when cross-examined before the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California in Oroville, October 20-21, 1955 admitted, under oath, that those “studies” were not valid studies. None of those studies, nor any since then, followed the same children from year to year, the water sources were not consistent, and there was absolutely no consideration for nutrition, oral hygiene care or dental care. A valid scientific controlled study cannot have these numerous variables, especially variables that are not taken into consideration.  The ADA just forgot to teach dentists that Dr. Dean invalidated his own “classical” studies.

In addition the World Health Organization (WHO) has now determined that over the years tooth decay rates have gone down equally in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. So where is the “benefit?”  It’s not there…and never has been.  You can find that WHO documentation at www.FluorideAlert.org.

 All that will happen when fluoride is no longer being ingested is positive things for general health. Folks will no longer have to experience any of those adverse health effects that are either caused by, or contributed to, as a result of ingesting this arsenic laced toxic industrial waste fluorosilicic acid chemical soup.

Besides being known to be a general protoplasmic poison and a strong cellular enzyme poison, fluorine is also known to be comparable to lead and arsenic as far as its ability to cause some symptoms of toxicity in minute doses.  It has already been documented by the ADA and the US Public Health Service that adverse health effects caused by or contributed to by fluoridation are many and includes dental fluorosis which is the first visible symptom of chronic fluoride poisoning and developmental disturbances in bones such as osteopetrosis and osteosclerosis. Also included in the list of adverse health effects that are caused by or contributed to by fluoridation is goiter and cancer as well as autism like symptoms found in animal studies that equate to humans.  

I suggest that this information be shared with any pro fluoride individual who attempts to convince you that tooth decay rates will rise if this toxic fluoride chemical is removed from your drinking water supply.

Ending water fluoridation will not cause any increase in tooth decay rates as water fluoridation has never reduced or prevented tooth decay in the first place. And remember:

TRUTH DECAY CAUSES WATER FLUORIDATION…


Monday, February 9, 2015

Did you know that most vitamin companies copy the actual vitamin molecule in a laboratory, in an attempt to provide vitamins for your body? This is not the same as vitamins that come from whole food.

Did you know that most vitamin companies copy the actual vitamin molecule in a laboratory, in an attempt to provide vitamins for your body? This is not the same as vitamins that come from whole food.

What is a Synthetic Vitamin?

Until recently 99.9% of vitamins sold in stores and online have been synthetic man made vitamins produced in a laboratory to try and match the molecular structure of naturally occurring vitamins normally found in food. Many of these raw material synthetic vitamins are made by large pharmaceutical companies or companies based outside of the US.

What is an “Isolate” Vitamin?

More recently some man made vitamins have been “isolated” using natural sources, this is a much better brand than purely synthetic made from petroleum or similar sources, but questionable whether they should be called "whole food".
What is a “Food State Fermented” Vitamin?

Some vitamins have been sold as "Food State" sometimes also referred to as "Whole Food Vitamins" by the manufacturers. These are made by feeding a synthetic vitamin (see above about synthetic vitamins) to a yeast type brew. This is then fermented with the yeast to convert them to "Food State". The idea is for the yeast to convert the synthetic vitamin to a more digestible state, similar to food. The yeast is harvested, dried and then packed. The fermented option may be better than the pure synthetic option above, but we do believe it does not warrant the label "Whole Food".
What is a 100% “Whole Food” Vitamin?

When we refer to PhytoVitamins natural vitamins and minerals as 100% "Whole Food" derived through a proprietary process from natural sources; we mean nothing is man made or artificial. Our nutrition DOES NOT come from a laboratory; it comes directly from nature. That is the dramatic difference.

The PhytoVitamins USDA certified organic vitamins range, only contains whole food natural vitamins that are made with 100% whole organic foods that are additive free, synthetic vitamin free, vegetarian and vegan. For more than 15 years PhytoVitamins has been educating consumers about the benefits of true whole food vitamins.

To our knowledge we are one of only two companies that have been talking about synthetic free, fermented free whole food vitamins for this length of time. The difference between PhytoVitamins and the only other true whole food vitamin that has been around for longer than 10 years, is that PhytoVitamins is 100% vegan and free from spleen, liver, bone, glands and similar animal parts.
Why do we take the approach of sourcing vitamins and minerals from plants, fruits and vegetables? Because we believe that human health is best served by nature’s pharmacy of natural nutrition. The PhytoVitamins Brand is a step forward for pure natural whole food nutrition.

For more information you may visit www.NaturesBrands.com
About Nature's Brands:

Established since 1995, and currently based in San Antonio TX USA, Nature's Brands supplies a comprehensive range of natural brands with over 150 Certified USDA Organic Health and Beauty products. The harvest of nature's pure nutritional healing powers come from Organic Skin Care Products, Natural Whole Food Vitamins, Alkaline Body Balance Supplements, Nutritious Green Foods, Pure Herbal Remedies and Quality Vitamins Supplements.

Monday, December 22, 2014

How Manufacturers of Skin Care and Body Care Falsely Claim Their Products are Certified Organic When in Fact they are NOT Organic!


How Manufacturers of Skin Care and Body Care Falsely Claim Their Products are Certified Organic When in Fact they are NOT Organic!

Many companies are ignoring the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) rules, with the intention of confusing their customers into believing their products are organic. How could this be possible you may ask? Some Companies claim to be certified by only having ONE certified organic product, therefore deceiving their customers into thinking that ALL of their products are organic. Only those that can present an organic certificate, listing all of their organic products can actually prove that their products are indeed certified organic. Don't be fooled if they only send you the first page showing the company name on that certificate, without sending you the rest of the pages listing the product. If the product is not listed then most likely it is not certified organic.

Another way a Company can deceive a customer is by stating that their farm grows their own organic crops and sell their own skin care products. They generally will use terms like; "Organic Skin Care from a USDA Certified Grower" this means that they may be certified as a grower but their individual skin care products are NOT certified.

In order to receive organic certification by the National Organic Program a manufacturer has to comply with hundreds of procedures and many pages of paperwork. This includes submitting ingredients label and artwork, followed by a series of inspections of the manufacturing facility. Finally the product is inspected, all of the ingredients used must have their individual organic certification, and then once a product has been approved the certifying agent adds that product to the company's organic certificate list.

There are various categories of Organic products;

100 PERCENT ORGANIC All ingredients must be certified organic, including any processing aids. Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the ingredients label. May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim. May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim. Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark. Click here for an example of Nature’s Brands Herbal Choice Mari Organic Lavender Body Butter 

ORGANICAll agricultural ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List. Non-organic ingredients allowed per National List may be used, up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water). Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel. May include USDA organic seal and/or organic claim. Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.  Click here for an example of Nature’s Brands Herbal Choice Mari Organic Day Cream Sweet Orange. 

  
“MADE WITH” ORGANICAt least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water). Any remaining agricultural products are not required to be organically produced but must be produced without genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge. Non-agricultural products must be specifically allowed on the National List. Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel. May state “made with organic (insert up to three ingredients or ingredient categories).” Must not include USDA organic seal anywhere, represent finished product as organic, or state “made with organic ingredients.” Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark. Click here to see an example of Nature’s Brands Herbal Choice Mari Facial Wash which is “Made With” Organic. 

About Nature's Brands:

Established since 1995, and currently based in San Antonio TX USA, Nature's Brands supplies a comprehensive range of natural brands with over 150 Certified USDA Organic Health and Beauty products. The harvest of nature's pure nutritional healing powers come from Organic Skin Care Products, Natural Whole Food Vitamins, Alkaline Body Balance Supplements, Nutritious Green Foods, Pure Herbal Remedies and Quality Vitamins Supplements.

Since 1995 Nature's Brands has been formulating organic health and beauty products with the highest quality ingredients.

- USDA certified organic
- 100% natural products
- Chemical free, additive free, filler free
- Paraben free, phthalate free, sulfate free
- Detergent and synthetic fragrance free
- GMO free, corn free*, soy free*, gluten free
- Vegan and certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny
- Packed in glass (all the organic skin care)
- Proudly made in the USA since 1995

*See list of ingredients 


Physical: 4827 Whirlwind Dr, Suite B
San Antonio, TX 78217
Mailing: PO Box 460274,
San Antonio, TX 78246
Tel. 210-599-1109 Fax. 866-545-0410
Direct. 561-727-8267

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Why Our Diets Are Lacking in Nutrition

Posted by "Nature's Brands"
 
Established since 1995, and now based in San Antonio TX USA, Nature's Brands supplies a comprehensive range of natural brands with over 150 Certified USDA Organic Health and Beauty products. The harvest of nature's pure nutritional healing powers come from Organic Skin Care Products, Natural Whole Food Vitamins, Alkaline Body Balance Supplements, Nutritious Green Foods, Pure Herbal Remedies and Quality Vitamins Supplements. 

Why Our Diets Are Lacking in Nutrition
Eating a completely balanced and nutritious diet is becoming more difficult these days as large corporate farms are taking the place of smaller, home-grown farming operations. And with some of these modern farms comes the use of new and "improved" ways of farming, which in many cases includes irradiating food, using artificial coloring and flavoring to enhance the look and taste of the food we buy, and even genetic engineering practices such as the use of GMOs.
What Are GMOs?
GMOs are genetically modified foods produced in laboratories while genetically modified crops are grown at biotechnological farming facilities. Since around 1976, experiments with GMOs have been used in agriculture to produce crops that are bigger, better, and resistant to certain insects or herbicides. However, a byproduct of this experimentation is that the plants created by biotechnology are not natural or organic and are lacking in raw and whole food ingredients. As you know, when you change the genetic component of plants that become food, this also affects the entire food chain.
While it's too early to know how GMOs will affect our health, what we do know is that artificial dyes, preservatives, and additives used in this process are unnatural to our diet. As we become more dependent on these products, we are moving away from the foods that contain vitamins and minerals and replacing them with a lower - quality source of nutrition.
An Easy and Nutritious Way to Supplement Our Diet
In 1995, recognizing that our food sources were changing, Natures Brands developed the product Supa Herbal GreensTM a super nutritious green foods supplement that provides 100% organic, all natural green vegetables, whole grains, vitamin rich seeds and enzymes in capsule and powder form.  Made from pure, raw 'certified organic' ingredients, Supa Herbal Greens is formulated for vegetarians and vegans and infused with the natural, antioxidant powder of plant - based ingredients.
By taking these green supplements once or twice a day, a person is able to enhance their diet right away helping to boost their nutritional needs without adding unnecessary calories to their diet. More importantly, Supa Herbal Greens are made with raw, whole food so there are no additives, preservatives, enhancers or fillers being used to replace any percentage of the product. What you get is 100% nutrition in a super - nutritious, compact formula that is easy to digest, easy to absorb and available to take on the road or use at home - so there's never a gap in one's diet. Best of all, it's "USDA Certified Organic," which means that it is the highest grade of all - natural and organic food.
What is the Difference Between Organic and Non - Organic Products?
The USDA sets the standard for what is considered "organic." To be certified organic, as in the case of Supa Herbal Greens, the manufacturer or producer must prove that all of their ingredients are approved substances as found on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Materials. In addition, the product and the company must be approved by a USDA - accredited certifying agency before they can receive the USDA Certified Organic seal to use on their label.  
The USDA organic seal verifies that the product has 95% or more certified organic content. In the case of organic crops, the USDA certification verifies that irradiation, sewerage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, and GMOs were not used. This is important to know, because in non - organic products, you will commonly find these processes and ingredients, along with additives, preservatives, synthetic dyes and irradiated ingredients. Non organics may also contain gluten, dairy, soy, yeast, corn, and even animal by-products.
How To Know if a Product is Certified as Organic?
When you are shopping, you are bound to see the terms "Natural" or "Organic" on a lot of products' labels, websites and catalogs. However, are they really what they claim to be? For the sake of whole food purity, here are three ways you can determine if the vitamins you are taking meet the highest standards possible to be certified organic:
1. If a product is certified as organic, it will have a "USDA - Organic Certified" seal on the front label or a "Made with Organic Ingredients" statement. If you don't see either of these, put the product back on the shelf.
2. If the label has a USDA seal or "Made with Organic" statement, it must also list the name of the agency that has certified them in this format: Certified Organic By: (then the certifying agency's name). It must appear on the back of the label below the company's name. If this is not the case, then the claim may be false.
3. If a company claims to be organic in their online or printed advertising, ask to see a copy of their "Organic Certificate."  Their certificate will show you which of their products have been certified. If they do not have a certificate, or their products are not listed individually as being certified, then the certification is not genuine.
Decrease Your Dependence on "Faux Food" By Using Certified Organic Products
As the field of biotechnology continues to become more and more sophisticated, we can count on seeing more GMO foods displayed on the shelves in our markets. These foods are colorful and look good on the outside but nutritionally, they are not the same as natural food substances.
The next time you go shopping for tomatoes or fruit, ask whether the products are "certified organic" and you'll have a better idea of what is in the food you are buying and eating, both for the sake of your health and that of your family.
If you are interested in knowing more about organic certified food and its benefits, visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPOrganicStandards. Should you want more information about the safe, nutritious super greens food supplement, Supa Herbal GreensTM, please visit: http://www.supaherbalgreens.com.
 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Invitation for Green Guest Bloggers

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

2000 year old Secret Benefits of Mineral Bath Salts finally revealed

What’s So Great About Bathing? 

The Benefits of Taking a Bath and Mineral Bath Salts....

Water has been seen throughout the ages as cleansing, refreshing, healing, and as a sign of renewal and a source of life. Our bodies are 85% water and it makes up 9/10s of our blood, saliva, plasma, lymphatic fluid, synovial fluid in the joints, and cerebrospinal fluid. It carries hormones, proteins, and helps deliver chemical messengers and signals from our brain to the rest of our body. It flushes toxic wastes, makes our cells big and healthy, and helps lubricate our moving parts.


What’s In It?Water is a universal solvent and it carries with it minerals that can be absorbed by the skin, which is why adding salts and essential oils to your bath can be beneficial. Additives like salt or oil can be absorbed into the skin and into the bloodstream in as little as 2 to 15 minutes. The heat from water in a bath opens our pores to help absorb minerals and aids in dilating blood vessels, boosts circulation, and helps detoxify the body. The suspension of the body in water also helps bring relief from gravity’s pull on our muscles and joints.Bathing is so beneficial to our bodies that there have been types of therapy developed around using water to help heal the body. Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat various ailments by using water’s physical properties such as temperature and pressure. 

It is a broad term and refers mainly to all forms of water therapy. It can help bring relief and aid to diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, and fibromyalgia, improve circulation, and help reduce swelling, aches, pains, and improve many other conditions.A type of water therapy, Balneotherapy is the treatment of disease by using mineral waters externally and is typically used at spas in the form of hot or cold baths, hot tubs, saunas, or wet compresses. Similar to Balneotherapy, another form of therapy using water is Thalassotherapy. It is the same concept, but uses specifically sea water and salt from various seas. Hydrotherapy is becoming more popular nowadays as people are looking for natural ways to help heal the body and as spas are becoming more common.There are a lot of physical benefits of taking a bath, but there are also some psychological benefits as well. 

As the water reduces tension on the body and relaxes muscles, the mind will also release stress and unwind. Baths have been shown to help people relieve stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, mild depression, and help people feel more positive overall.

Why Use Bath Salt?The types of salt used for bath salts are unlike regular table salt. Table salt has been bleached, iodized, and put through many other harsh steps that change its molecular structure and take out vital minerals, which is why this salt needs to be eaten in moderation as it can contribute tohealth problems. The right type of salt can be very beneficial to our bodies as it contains minerals we need that our bodies do not produce on their own. Salts used in bath salts or in Thalassotherapy (sea salt bath therapy) still contain all of their natural minerals that the body absorbs through water.



Of all the sea salts, Celtic Sea salt contains the most minerals and has the lowest amount of sodium. Once dissolved in water, it also has a very similar likeness to human blood and body fluids, which make it better for your body to absorb. Celtic Sea salt comes from the northern coast of France and is still harvested using a 2000 year old Celtic farming method. Harvesters of the salt use wooden rakes to scrape the layers of salt out of the sea and into piles. The reason wood rakes are used is because metal can change the molecular structure of the minerals contained in salt. This old Celtic far
ming method of using wooden rakes ensures the purity and balance of the minerals in the salt.


So what is in Celtic Sea salt that makes it so great for the body? A few of the types of minerals in Celtic Sea salt are chloride, iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, silicon, and fluoride. These trace minerals are important to your body. They act as facilitators for biological reactions meaning they help carry the brain’s messages throughout the nervous system, improve muscle response, and help the body absorb the nutrients it gets from food.Sodium and Chloride help regulate acidity in the body and sodium maintains pH balance in cellular fluid. Both are necessary for osmosis and electrolyte balance. Iron is needed for cell function and blood utilization. Magnesium aids in cell functionality and is necessary for muscle contraction and absorption of amino acids. Potassium helps stimulate nerve impulses and muscle contractions, stimulates kidney and adrenal function, and is also important for biosynthesis of protein. 

Calcium is used to build healthy bones and teeth, stimulates muscles and nerves, helps blood coagulation, and is necessary for regulating a healthy heartbeat. Zinc is beneficial for growth, development, immune system response, insulin synthesis, and can help prevent bacterial infections. Copper aids in the absorption of iron and vitamin C. Manganese is necessary for use of glucose, lipid synthesis and metabolism, and pancreatic function and development. Silicon helps with bone growth and formation, and may help keep skin young looking and keep hair and nails healthy. Fluoride keeps teeth enamel strong and helps the body absorb calcium.

Our body is made up of water from our saliva, to blood, to our cells and joints. The minerals in water help our bodies function. Bathing is a great way to absorb those minerals and has been used throughout the ages by the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians. Bathing today is seen as forms of hydrotherapy such as Thalassotherapy and Balneotherapy or even just soaking in a hot tub with some bath salt.


About Plantlife.net

    Detox Therapy

  •                     Plantlife, a company out of  San Clemente, California uses unrefined, unprocessed Celtic Sea Salt harvested from the unpolluted pristine shores of Northern France in all their Therapeutic Mineral Bath Salts.

  •  Plantlife's mission is to consistently create all-natural body care products using the freshest organic herbs and 100% pure essential oils.                                    

                                                                                                                                   Bath salt

    -                                                  

Each of our aromatherapy creations is prepared with the intent of enriching our lives as well as our environment.

Aromatherapy grade essential oils and Organic flower extracts of Calendula and Chamomile are added to create a formula that is soothing and softening to the skin. 

Lavender Therapy

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                        Sore  Muscle 

Each synergistic blend is created to cater to specific health and wellness needs.

  

Friday, August 2, 2013


Nothing goes to waste

By TAN CHENG LI
star2green@thestar.com.my

 After reviewing news and current articles about recycling, the one really stood out. The articles title  was very intriguing " Nothing goes to waste " and it definitely caugt my attention.It started with the premise:"Beverage cartons can be fully recycled into new paper and green roofs."
C.C. Lee holds up a piece of shiny corrugated board and gives it a couple of knocks. “It’s very hard, stronger than cement board,” he says, his eyes gleaming proudly. “We’re planning to call it ‘green roof’.”
It certainly is an apt name as the board is fully made of recycled material. Its reflective surface gives a hint of what it once was – beverage cartons. That’s right, those packet drinks which Malaysians guzzle down by the thousands each day can be saved from the dump site and transformed into a new product.
Lee’s company, KPT Packaging, started producing the construction boards in 2011 and it now makes 1,300 pieces each month. It may not be a huge figure but sales are picking up and he is in the midst of doubling his production capacity.
Beverage cartons are made of 75% paper fibre, 20% polyethylene and 5% aluminium foil. A carton typically comprises six layers – a layer each of aluminium and paper, sandwiched in between four layers of polyethylene plastic. This design is what makes them excellent packaging material for food and beverages, but it also poses a recycling challenge – the recycling process has to separate the different materials for reuse.
Full recycling of drinks cartons has long been dogged by insufficient volume and a lack of economy of scale. Factories need huge amounts of the waste to make investments in recycling machinery worthwhile but little of the discarded boxes has been retrieved. Attempts to recycle the packaging waste got off to a promising start in 2005, when an agreement was struck between Tetra Pak Malaysia and Pascorp Paper Industries which saw the latter extracting the paper fibre to produce new paper. However, the residual polyethylene and aluminium were still discarded.
Now, KPT is filling that niche. It is the only local company that is fully recycling the cartons, for aside from producing the boards from the plastic and aluminium components, it also turns the paper fibre into new paper. It joined the recycling business in 1995, picking up and sorting recyclables before sending them to recyclers. In 2005, after signing up as a collection partner with Tetra Pak Malaysia, it started fishing out drink cartons from the waste stream and sending them to Pascorp’s paper mill in Bentong, Pahang, which recycles the paper fibre in the cartons into paper.
Tetra Pak, which produces almost all the drink cartons sold locally, has been working with collectors and recyclers to set up a recycling chain for carton waste, and has even taken them on study trips to Thailand and India to see the processing of the material. It was such trips which convinced KPT of the viability of the business, and it started recycling the cartons in 2009, by buying over an existing paper mill.
C.C. Lee’s company, KPT Packaging, started recycling beverage cartons into construction and roofing boards in 201 1.C.C. Lee’s company, KPT Packaging, started recycling beverage cartons into construction and roofing boards in 201 1.
“We saw that it is a good and profitable industry,” says Lee, who is director of the company started by his father. In 2011, KPT completed the carton recycling chain when it started turning the plastic and aluminium components into the shiny boards. Now it processes about 250 tonnes of cartons each month – that’s about 17.5 million beverage cartons, based on the average weight of various carton sizes.
At the KPT factory in Kampung Jawa in Shah Alam, Selangor, the recycling process starts with hydrapulping – the cartons are thrown into a huge vat together with water, and blended into bits. The fine paper fibres will sink through a wire mesh at the bottom of the hydrapulper, separating them from the bigger pieces of aluminium and plastic. The paper pulp is sieved to remove impurities, then refined into a smooth consistency. It is then passed through rollers, pressed and dried, to form medium paper (the grade of paper used to form the inner, fluted layer of corrugated board). It takes about three hours after a carton is thrown into the hydrapulper, to be turned into paper.
Drink cartons are sought after in paper production as they contain virgin pulp. “The fibres are of long lengths and so, are of good quality. We don’t need to add chemicals to strengthen the paper,” explains Lee.
KPT uses a mix of 80% carton fibres and 20% old corrugated carton to produce medium paper. Lee says extracting the fibre for paper production is not a costly or energy-intensive venture as the process is similar to conventional paper production, the only difference being the extra 25 minutes spent at the hydrapulping stage. The process requires plenty of water but the water is filtered and reused.
Reusing poly-al
The polyethylene and aluminium components of cartons are commonly referred to as poly-al. After being separated from paper pulp in the hydrapulping machine, the poly-al is crushed into tiny bits, dried and packed into 20kg plastic bags. The whole bag then goes into a hot press where a temperature of 180°C melts the bag of poly-al and bonds everything to form a hard board.
Currently sold in hardware stores, the 1.2m by 2.7m (4 feet by 9 feet) boards can be used in construction formwork, ceilings, partition walls and roofs.
“It can be used in place of plywood as it is moisture-resistant. Compared with cement roof, the poly-al roof is tougher, has better impact resistance, and more cooling as it has lower thermal conductivity,” says Lee. He adds that making the boards is the simplest way to reuse poly-al and it does not require a big investment. “With the volume of carton waste that we get, this is the most practical way to recycle poly-al. Other technologies are more expensive.”
KPT Packaging processes some 17.5 million drink cartons eac h month.KPT Packaging processes some 17.5 million drink cartons eac h month.
KPT now processes only half of the 50 tonnes of poly-al generated at its factory each month into boards because of its machine capacity. The rest of the poly-al is being stored for now.
The other use for poly-al is in the making of plastic pellets, an option which KPT is now exploring. Thailand already produces poly-al pellets and these are used like plastic resin pellets: to manufacture plastic furniture and plastic ware such as pots, baskets, clothes hangers, broomsticks and containers.
“There is a market for the (poly-al) pellets,” says Lee. “Plastic recyclers say they can mix the pellets with virgin plastic resin. We foresee demand for the pellets as they are more versatile, and can be injected into various products.”
Lee believes that as long as the pellets are priced lower than virgin plastic resin, they should sell, but there are various considerations: whether the aluminium content might affect the quality of the pellets and costings. He remains optimistic, however, and has sent his poly-al pellet samples to plastic recyclers to try out. Also, a small portion of the aluminium content can be removed when the poly-al is being melted to form pellets, and this has a market, too.
Collecting enough
KPT’s venture is certainly helping to reuse a resource but recycling of the waste is still not extensive here. Last year, only 15.3% of the 1.5 billion drink cartons consumed by Malaysians were collected by KPT for recycling. Though the recycling rate has grown – it was 7.3% in 2010 and 10.8% in 2011 – it is still way below that of Thailand and India, which recycle 23% and 17.9% respectively, of the cartons consumed.
Some of the empty cartons – no one knows exactly how much – are believed to end up being mixed with other waste paper and recycled into paper. But some could very well end up in dumpsites. Which is a waste, really, as the whole carton is recyclable.
To ensure enough carton waste for its operations, KPT works with collectors all over the country as well as groups like Tzu Chi Foundation and Recycle & Reward, paying between 30 sen and 50 sen per kilogramme. It even had a short-term campaign last year where it offered RM1 per kg for the waste, just so that people will know the value of carton waste.
Drink cartons are fully recyclable — the paper fibre can be recycled into paper, while the polyethylene and aluminium (known as poly-al) can be turned into plastic products.Drink cartons are fully recyclable — the paper fibre can be recycled into paper, while the polyethylene and aluminium (known as poly-al) can be turned into plastic products.
“It is difficult to get the cartons. Recyclers tend to mix them with OCC (old corrugated carton) as it is too much work to separate them,” says Lee. However, its limited processing capacity sees KPT still sending between 25 and 30 tonnes of cartons to Pascorp each month.
Pascorp, on the other hand, extracts only paper fibres to produce new paper and discards the remaining poly-al. Because the mill blends the cartons with other paper waste during the hydrapulping process, the residual material is not pure poly-al – it is mixed with stuff like staples and tapes – and cannot be used, explains Tetra Pak Malaysia director of communication and environment, Terrynz Tan.
In order to obtain uncontaminated poly-al, Tan says, KPT was asked to pulp only cartons and not mix it with other paper waste. “We’ve also asked KPT to maximise its capacity and use as much of the collected cartons as possible.”
Tetra Pak prefers to see 100% recycling of its products and so, encourages segregation of drink cartons from other paper waste. It’s “Flip, Flap, Flat” slogan encourages consumers to flatten the carton – and preferably, rinse it – for recycling. It has conducted various programmes with schools and non-government organisations to raise the carton collection rates.
“When cartons are lumped together with mixed paper waste, you lose the 25% poly-al content,” says environment manager Manjula Murugesan. “We want to use as much of the poly-al as possible. If recycling of poly-al picks up, it is beneficial as it will add to the value chain. Recyclers can get a higher price for the carton waste and this will help sustain the recycling effort.”