Environment & Quality
Palm Products’ Sustainability and Safety Policy
Palm Products is committed to using industry best practice and to introducing more sustainable and safer materials and production processes as they become available.
Food-Safety
There are legitimate questions on the safety of many plastics and of melamine. Palm Products has taken the following actions:
- BPA-containing polycarbonate has been phased out.
- Material sourcing is preferred from leading companies like Dupont and from companies with 100% traceability, as substitution and trust is considered an important issue.
- Product labelling includes material type
- If US or Euro authorities have safety concerns expressed as a “minimum daily safe intake” – such as exists for Polycarbonate and Melamine – these materials are not used
- Sorona, a new 35% Renewably sourced material from Dupont is used in the new Sorona Plate and Bowl collection, even though it is significantly more expensive than inferior alternatives.
- In sourcing raw materials, the energy used from extraction, through useful life to disposal is considered
- Energy efficient European equipment is used
- Palm Products is accredited to environmental standard ISO14001 which mandates that there is an effective on-going improvement plan to reduce environmental inputs and outputs
- Long life materials are used – for example, products made from Tritan and Sorona are guaranteed unbreakable and dishwasher safe and so will out-last lesser material many times – saving replacement.
- Designs are robust and long lasting
- All materials used are 100% recyclable
Palm Products is a BPA-free company
The company took the decision early in 2014 to phase out the sale of BPA-containing polycarbonate. The key reasons behind this decision are as follows:
- The USFDA and the European Commission have placed it on their watch list and proscribe a minimum safe daily intake.
- France has banned its use for food contact from 1st January 2015.
- California has listed polycarbonate ingredient BPA as a hazardous chemical to the Proposition 65 list. The base polymer of polycarbonate is BPA.
- Its use for baby bottles has been phased out in most countries
- Evidence indicates that it passes through the body without build-up, but it has binding affinity with estrogen and androgen receptors – it mimics a hormone.
- Research shows some evidence of harmful effects but it is so far inconclusive.
- Palm Products’ view is that it is difficult to assess the long-term effect of small dosages, and that it is not a good idea to pass hormone mimicing substances through one’s body.
- Palm Products’ view is that consumers, retailers and producers should be cautious and not offer BPA containing PC.
Quality Accreditation
Palm Products aims to produce the world’s finest quality drink and table ware at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Melbourne Australia.
The facility is accredited to quality standard ISO9001. This accreditation ensures that procedures are in place to control product quality from receipt of raw materials to delivery to customer, with traceability of raw materials and end product. A product purchased anywhere in the world back can be traced back to its date of production, the production parameters used and the batch of its raw material.
Importantly, the system drives continuous improvement in all facets of the business by highlighting areas of waste and non-conformity and by then taking action.
Automotive production is built around zero-defect delivery. If one faulty part is delivered to the vehicle assembly plant, it can halt the whole production line. Costs involved can be passed back to the part supplier. In order to survive in this industry, systems, equipment and staff have to be good enough to achieve zero-defects for each and every delivery. Quality must be built-in. There is no room for compromise.
The benefits for our customers are affordable products made to the highest standards.
Environment
Palm Products aims to minimize its impact on the environment This standard requires Palm Products to measure its environmental impact and to have active programs and procedures in-place to reduce it. This includes a policy of purchasing the latest low-energy moulding equipment from Europe, often replacing older less efficient equipment. It also extends to the specification and design of consumer products. These are made from unbreakable materials that are dishwasher safe and will last indefinitely. This contrasts with most products in this category which have a comparatively short life and require frequent replacement. All plastic materials used can be recycled.
Safety
All materials used to make Palm drink and tableware are certified as passing the European Commission and the US Food and Drug Administration food contact standards. All products are made in Palm’s factory in Melbourne Australia which assists in achieving total control over materials and production processes.