[Greenbuilding] green building and plastics--dioxins + Cargill-in-the-Amazon News!

[Mary Bull - Greenwood Earth Alliance]

Tim,

I always read your posts with interest... What about the release of dioxins
when plastic is melted? I have heard that this the gravest issue re plastic
lumber; however, it seems like one that could be dealt with and contained.
Have you read anything?

Just read this morning that Cargill--largest privately held corporation in
the world and way down there with Monsanto in the ethics and accountably
department, and way up there with Monsanto defining global food policy via
the WTO.-- is funding massive illegal razing of the Amazon for soy bean
production--most likely GMO, at that.

May they be forever banished from power!

Mary

Mary Bull
Greenwood Earth Alliance
Save the Redwoods - Boycott the Gap Campaign
252 Frederick, San Francisco, CA 94117 http://www.gapsucks.org
415-731-7924 chalicenew at earthlink.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <t.keating at rainforestrelief.org>
To: <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] green building and plastics


Nitya,

As far as I'm concerned, recycled plastic lumber (RPL) is a very green
building material. When one looks at the materials it can replace and
the overall life-span of true RPL, reduced impact in the forests is
just one of many benefits.

While many would argue that the original product from which RPL is
made should not have been made in the first place (and I'm in that
camp), once it's heading to the landfill, everythng changes.

In fact, the benefits of a plastic deck as compared to ipê (a tropical
hardwood logged mostly from the Brazilian Amazon) that I'd even look
the other way if the boards were made out of virgin plastic.

A great deal of research has been done by Dr. Thomas Nosker and his
associates at Rutgers University on the benefits of RPL. Some of those
studies may be on-line at http://www.amipp.rutgers.edu/.

If you can't find anything, get back in touch and I can put you
directly in touch with Dr. Nosker.

tim keating
Rainforest Relief


Quoting Nitya Akeroyd <nityajana at yahoo.com>:

> Hi Folks
>
>   I work for a company that organises conferences for the plastics
> industry and we are planning a building material conference. As I
> have an interest in green building, i was asked to research ideas
> for a section of 3 or 4 papers in the conference on green building.
>
>   As well as an overview of the green building industry and the
> principles of green building, the idea was to look at some of the
> latest, hottest green building products that relate to the plastics
> industry.
>
>   I know at home I am always looking for ways to reduce plastic, so
> this has lead me to think about the key ways in which plastic can be
>  used effectively that help to reduce environmental impact and
> improve the efficiency, durability and "healthiness" of a building.
> What are the things that plastic excels at that, that it does better
>  than other materials and that we actually want to make use of it
> for???? Would love to hear from anyone who has any thoughts on this,
>  product suggestions/recommendations, or any other related
> suggestions.
>
>   Thanks,
>
>   Nitya Akeroyd
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
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